City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,440 in Chicago.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and Laredo. Chicago averages 53°F while Laredo averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,030.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago 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
Chicago and Laredo are 1,196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $410 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $63,915 in Laredo, down $13,987 (18%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 90 in Laredo, down 77 points (46%).
The move
Laredo and Chicago are 1,196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,440 a month in Chicago, up $410 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $77,902 in Chicago, up $13,987 (22%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 167 in Chicago, up 77 points (86%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Laredo rent is 28% cheaper than Chicago
Chicago
$1,440/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,440 in Chicago, so Laredo is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $410/month back in your pocket ($4,920/year). Over five years that's $24,600 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 Chicago, 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
22% higher
Chicago's median income is 22% higher than Laredo
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Chicago (about $13,987 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, Chicago 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
46% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 46% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 52% 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 Chicago 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
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 22% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago 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 28% 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 Chicago on this page's weather index by 52%. Chicago 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 46% lower than Chicago (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 44/100 in Chicago). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,440 in Chicago; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Chicago still pays more locally ($77,902 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Chicago rates.
Weather averages land near 53°F in Chicago and 73°F in Laredo.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; Chicago only makes sense when you have walked the Chicago ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,440 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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