City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 293 in Albuquerque, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 320, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,145 in Albuquerque.
Safety is where Albuquerque and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 203 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Albuquerque and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Albuquerque wins on the job market and Laredo wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Laredo has rougher pockets and Albuquerque has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Albuquerque and Laredo are 672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Albuquerque to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $115 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $68,317 in Albuquerque to $63,915 in Laredo, down $4,402 (6%).
The crime index goes from 293 in Albuquerque to 90 in Laredo, down 203 points (69%).
The move
Laredo and Albuquerque are 672 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,145 a month in Albuquerque, up $115 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $68,317 in Albuquerque, up $4,402 (7%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 293 in Albuquerque, up 203 points (226%).
Albuquerque, NM
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Laredo, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Albuquerque and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Laredo rent is 10% cheaper than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
$1,145/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,145 in Albuquerque, so Laredo is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,380, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Laredo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Albuquerque.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Albuquerque's median income is 7% higher than Laredo
Albuquerque
Winner$68,317
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Albuquerque (about $4,402 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
69% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 69% lower than Albuquerque
Albuquerque
293 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 293 in Albuquerque (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 69% lower in Laredo. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Laredo is the easier city. Albuquerque can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Albuquerque and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Albuquerque
65°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Albuquerque averages about 65°F (72°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Albuquerque sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Albuquerque is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($68,317). Start with Albuquerque if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,030 a month. Choose Laredo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 69% lower than Albuquerque (90 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Laredo scores 63/100 versus 27/100 in Albuquerque. Rent is $1,030/month in Laredo and $1,145/month in Albuquerque, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
With only $115 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $68,317 in Albuquerque versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 27/100); Albuquerque is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,145/month rent plus $68,317 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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