City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Laredo is significant: $93,658 median household versus $63,915. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Austin 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 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
Austin and Laredo are 219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $699 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $63,915 in Laredo, down $29,743 (32%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 90 in Laredo, down 72 points (44%).
The move
Laredo and Austin are 219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $699 a month (68%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $93,658 in Austin, up $29,743 (47%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 162 in Austin, up 72 points (80%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Laredo rent is 40% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,729 in Austin, so Laredo is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $699/month back in your pocket ($8,388/year). Over five years that's $41,940 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 Austin, 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
47% higher
Austin's median income is 47% higher than Laredo
Austin
Winner$93,658
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 47% higher in Austin (about $29,743 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, Austin 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
44% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 44% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 47% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin 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 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.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 44% lower than Austin (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,030/month in Laredo versus $1,729 in Austin. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $93,658 in Austin, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $63,915 in Laredo.
If housing cost drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match ($1,030/month rent against $1,729). If an employer or family tie already points to Austin, treat $1,729/month rent and $93,658 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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