City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 213 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis 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. Minneapolis 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
Minneapolis and Laredo are 1,255 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $341 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $63,915 in Laredo, down $16,931 (21%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 90 in Laredo, down 213 points (70%).
The move
Laredo and Minneapolis are 1,255 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $341 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $16,931 (26%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 303 in Minneapolis, up 213 points (237%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Laredo rent is 25% cheaper than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Laredo is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $341/month back in your pocket ($4,092/year). Over five years that's $20,460 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 Minneapolis, 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
26% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 26% higher than Laredo
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Minneapolis (about $16,931 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, Minneapolis 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
70% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 70% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°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 39% 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 Minneapolis 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
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis 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 25% 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 Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis 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 70% lower than Minneapolis (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
Minneapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (26/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 37-point spread matters more than the $341 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Minneapolis still pays more locally ($80,846 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Minneapolis rates.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Minneapolis and 73°F in Laredo.
If safety drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match (63/100 safety versus 26/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Minneapolis, treat $1,371/month rent and $80,846 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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