City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Laredo.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Safety is where Orlando and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 152 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,747 in Orlando and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Orlando wins on the job market and Laredo wins on cost of living and safety. 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
Orlando and Laredo are 1,107 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $717 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $63,915 in Laredo, down $8,421 (12%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 90 in Laredo, down 152 points (63%).
The move
Laredo and Orlando are 1,107 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $717 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $72,336 in Orlando, up $8,421 (13%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 242 in Orlando, up 152 points (169%).
Orlando, 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 Orlando and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Laredo rent is 41% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Laredo is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $717/month back in your pocket ($8,604/year). Over five years that's $43,020 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 Orlando, 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
13% higher
Orlando's median income is 13% higher than Laredo
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 13% higher in Orlando (about $8,421 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, Orlando 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
63% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 63% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Orlando and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Orlando
71°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Orlando averages about 71°F (78°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Orlando sits near 71°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Orlando is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($72,336). Start with Orlando if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than Orlando (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 33/100 in Orlando). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,747 in Orlando; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Orlando still pays more locally ($72,336 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Orlando rates.
Median income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 33/100); Orlando is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,747/month rent plus $72,336 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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