City comparison
Yes. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 165 in St Petersburg, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 167, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Laredo and 2023 FBI data for St Petersburg.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,663 in St Petersburg.
Safety is where Laredo and St Petersburg split most clearly. Laredo scores 75 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,030 in Laredo and $1,663 in St Petersburg.
This is a genuine split. Laredo wins on cost of living and safety and St Petersburg wins on the job market. 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
Laredo and St Petersburg are 1,028 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,663 a month in St Petersburg, up $633 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $75,192 in St Petersburg, up $11,277 (18%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 165 in St Petersburg, up 75 points (83%).
The move
St Petersburg and Laredo are 1,028 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,663 a month in St Petersburg to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $633 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $75,192 in St Petersburg to $63,915 in Laredo, down $11,277 (15%).
The crime index goes from 165 in St Petersburg to 90 in Laredo, down 75 points (45%).
Laredo, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Petersburg, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Laredo and St Petersburg? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Laredo rent is 38% cheaper than St Petersburg
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
St Petersburg
$1,663/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,663 in St Petersburg, so Laredo is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $633/month back in your pocket ($7,596/year). Over five years that's $37,980 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 St Petersburg, 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
18% higher
St Petersburg's median income is 18% higher than Laredo
Laredo
$63,915
St Petersburg
Winner$75,192
Median household income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 18% higher in St Petersburg (about $11,277 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, St Petersburg 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
45% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 45% lower than St Petersburg
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
St Petersburg
165 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 165 in St Petersburg (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% 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. St Petersburg can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Laredo and St Petersburg are about even on typical weather.
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Petersburg
77°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs); St Petersburg averages about 77°F (82°F highs). Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Petersburg sits near 77°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
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 38% 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 45% lower than St Petersburg (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Petersburg is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($75,192). Start with St Petersburg if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On rent alone, Laredo undercuts St Petersburg by $633/month ($1,030 vs $1,663). I would not pick St Petersburg on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below St Petersburg's $1,663, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $75,192 in St Petersburg versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Between Laredo and St Petersburg, Laredo is ahead on housing cost — $1,030/month rent against $1,663. Lean St Petersburg instead when your $75,192 income offer in St Petersburg outweighs saving $633/month in Laredo.
Common questions
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