City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 140 in Miami, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,758 in Miami.
The cost gap between Miami and Laredo is the real story here. Laredo comes in 41% cheaper on typical rent ($1,758 vs $1,030), which over a year adds up to $8,736. Median household income runs $62,462 in Miami and $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Miami 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
Miami and Laredo are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,758 a month in Miami to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $728 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $62,462 in Miami to $63,915 in Laredo, up $1,453 (2%).
The crime index goes from 140 in Miami to 90 in Laredo, down 50 points (36%).
The move
Laredo and Miami are 1,198 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,758 a month in Miami, up $728 a month (71%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $62,462 in Miami, down $1,453 (2%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 140 in Miami, up 50 points (56%).
Miami, FL
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 Miami and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Laredo rent is 41% cheaper than Miami
Miami
$1,758/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,758 in Miami, so Laredo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $728/month back in your pocket ($8,736/year). Over five years that's $43,680 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 Miami, 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
2% higher
Laredo's median income is 2% higher than Miami
Miami
$62,462
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $62,462 in Miami, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Laredo (about $1,453 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
36% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 36% lower than Miami
Miami
140 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 140 in Miami (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Miami can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Miami and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Miami
75°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Miami averages about 75°F (78°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Miami sits near 75°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Miami
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Miami because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Miami only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($63,915). Start with Laredo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Miami (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
Miami runs $1,758/month while Laredo sits at $1,030 — roughly 41% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Miami-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 50/100 in Miami), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $62,462 in Miami.
Laredo is the default on housing cost at $1,030/month versus $1,758 in Miami; Miami stays in play when $62,462 local pay or an existing job offer outweighs the $728 lease gap.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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