Laredo, TX Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Laredo, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Laredo →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Laredo counts roughly 255,293 residents, and the median household brings in $60,928 annually — -15% relative to the cities in our dataset, putting incomes here below the pack.
In Laredo, the median home is valued at $164,400 — below the median across the cities we track (-50%) — and typical rent runs $968 a month. Factor in mortgage rates and property taxes when sizing up whether buying pencils out.
Buying a typical home in Laredo would take about 2.7 years of median household income, a comparatively affordable multiple by our tracked standards. Laredo's home prices climbed 2.5% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA's National Risk Index puts Laredo at Relatively Moderate for overall natural-hazard risk — a relatively favorable factor for insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $968/mo in Laredo would take 19.1% of your income.
$555/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($164,400) would take 17.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$544/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Laredo
Median home value is $164,400 and median gross rent is $968/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Webb rose 2.5% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,161/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Laredo's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Laredo reported a violent crime rate of 316.3 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Laredo
Planning a move to Laredo? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Laredo, TX?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Laredo's median home value at $164,400, median rent at $968/month, and median household income at $60,928.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Laredo?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Laredo, where median rent runs $968/month, you'd want to earn about $38,720 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Laredo.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Laredo?
- Buying at Laredo's median home value of $164,400 takes about $37,614 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $38,720 a year to comfortably rent at the median $968/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Laredo safe?
- The most recent FBI figures (2025) show a violent crime rate of 316.3 per 100,000 residents in Laredo.
See the full salary breakdown for Laredo →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Laredo's.