City comparison
Laredo is safer than Pittsburgh. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Pittsburgh and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 68 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,261 in Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh 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
Pittsburgh and Laredo are 1,426 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $231 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $63,915 in Laredo, down $1,827 (3%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 90 in Laredo, down 68 points (43%).
The move
Laredo and Pittsburgh are 1,426 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $231 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $1,827 (3%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 68 points (76%).
Pittsburgh, PA
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 Pittsburgh and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Laredo rent is 18% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Laredo is 18% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,772, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Laredo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 3% higher than Laredo
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Pittsburgh (about $1,827 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
43% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 43% lower than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Laredo
Winner78°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Laredo averages about 78°F (86°F highs). Pittsburgh averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Laredo sits near 78°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 Pittsburgh 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
Pittsburgh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh 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 18% 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 (78°F) beat Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 39%. Pittsburgh 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 43% lower than Pittsburgh (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
Safety is the widest gap: Laredo scores 63/100 versus 46/100 in Pittsburgh. Rent is $1,030/month in Laredo and $1,261/month in Pittsburgh, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Laredo is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 46/100); Pittsburgh is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,261/month rent plus $65,742 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
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