City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Safety is where Phoenix and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 84 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,582 in Phoenix 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. Phoenix 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
Phoenix and Laredo are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $552 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $63,915 in Laredo, down $17,417 (21%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 90 in Laredo, down 84 points (48%).
The move
Laredo and Phoenix are 853 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $552 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $17,417 (27%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 174 in Phoenix, up 84 points (93%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Laredo rent is 35% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Laredo is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $552/month back in your pocket ($6,624/year). Over five years that's $33,120 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 Phoenix, 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
27% higher
Phoenix's median income is 27% higher than Laredo
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Phoenix (about $17,417 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, Phoenix 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
48% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 48% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. Phoenix can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 3% more comfortable than Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (87°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 3% 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 Phoenix 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
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix 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 35% 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 Phoenix on this page's weather index by 3%. Phoenix 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 48% lower than Phoenix (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Laredo at $1,030/month versus $1,582 in Phoenix ($552 apart). Phoenix median income is $81,332 against $63,915 in Laredo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Phoenix's $1,582, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Phoenix deserves a serious look only when your $81,332 income offer in Phoenix outweighs saving $552/month in Laredo.
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