City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 151 in Reno, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,556 in Reno.
Safety is where Reno and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 61 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,556 in Reno 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. Reno 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
Reno and Laredo are 1,429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $526 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $63,915 in Laredo, down $16,845 (21%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 90 in Laredo, down 61 points (40%).
The move
Laredo and Reno are 1,429 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,556 a month in Reno, up $526 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $80,760 in Reno, up $16,845 (26%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 151 in Reno, up 61 points (68%).
Reno, NV
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 Reno and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Laredo rent is 34% cheaper than Reno
Reno
$1,556/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,556 in Reno, so Laredo is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $526/month back in your pocket ($6,312/year). Over five years that's $31,560 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 Reno, 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
Reno's median income is 26% higher than Laredo
Reno
Winner$80,760
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $80,760 in Reno versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Reno (about $16,845 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, Reno 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
40% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 40% lower than Reno
Reno
151 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 151 in Reno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Reno can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 9% more comfortable than Reno
Reno
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Reno averages around 62°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 9% 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 Reno 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
Reno is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($80,760). Start with Reno 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 34% 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 Reno on this page's weather index by 9%. Reno 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 40% lower than Reno (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,030/month in Laredo versus $1,556 in Reno. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $80,760 in Reno, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Reno's $1,556, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $80,760 in Reno versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Pick Laredo when shaving $526 off rent at $1,030/month is the priority. Otherwise, Reno's case rests on $1,556/month rent with $80,760 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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