City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
Safety is where Kansas City and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 253 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City 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. Kansas City 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
Kansas City and Laredo are 850 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $208 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $63,915 in Laredo, down $5,251 (8%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 90 in Laredo, down 253 points (74%).
The move
Laredo and Kansas City are 850 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $208 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $5,251 (8%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 343 in Kansas City, up 253 points (281%).
Kansas City, MO
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 Kansas City and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Laredo rent is 17% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Laredo is 17% 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 $2,496, 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 Kansas City.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Kansas City's median income is 8% higher than Laredo
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Kansas City (about $5,251 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
74% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 74% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 25% more comfortable than Kansas City
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°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 25% 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 Kansas City 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
Kansas City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($69,166). Start with Kansas City 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 17% 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 Kansas City on this page's weather index by 25%. Kansas City 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 74% lower than Kansas City (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 23/100 in Kansas City. Rent is $1,030/month in Laredo and $1,238/month in Kansas City, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 23/100 in Kansas City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,238 in Kansas City.
Between Kansas City and Laredo, Laredo is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 23/100. Lean Kansas City instead when you already know the Kansas City block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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