City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Atlanta and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 107 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,711 in Atlanta and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Atlanta makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Laredo is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Laredo at $1,030 average has pockets that run $830 and others at $1,430: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Atlanta and Laredo are 996 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $681 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $63,915 in Laredo, down $21,737 (25%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 90 in Laredo, down 107 points (54%).
The move
Laredo and Atlanta are 996 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $681 a month (66%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $21,737 (34%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 197 in Atlanta, up 107 points (119%).
Atlanta, GA
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 Atlanta and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Laredo rent is 40% cheaper than Atlanta
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Laredo is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $681/month back in your pocket ($8,172/year). Over five years that's $40,860 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Atlanta, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Laredo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
34% higher
Atlanta's median income is 34% higher than Laredo
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 34% higher in Atlanta (about $21,737 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Atlanta is the stronger labor market on paper. Laredo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
54% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 54% lower than Atlanta
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Atlanta averages around 61°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 34% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 40% 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.
Pick Laredo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta may pay more or cost less, but Laredo is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 54% lower than Atlanta (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Laredo leads on safety (63/100 vs 39/100 in Atlanta). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,711 in Atlanta; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Atlanta still pays more locally ($85,652 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Atlanta rates.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 39/100); Atlanta is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,711/month rent plus $85,652 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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