City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 252 in Seattle, 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 $2,030 in Seattle.
The income gap between Seattle and Laredo is significant: $123,860 median household versus $63,915. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,030 in Seattle 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. Seattle 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
Seattle and Laredo are 1,854 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,030 a month in Seattle to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $1,000 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $123,860 in Seattle to $63,915 in Laredo, down $59,945 (48%).
The crime index goes from 252 in Seattle to 90 in Laredo, down 162 points (64%).
The move
Laredo and Seattle are 1,854 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $2,030 a month in Seattle, up $1,000 a month (97%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $123,860 in Seattle, up $59,945 (94%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 252 in Seattle, up 162 points (180%).
Seattle, WA
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 Seattle and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
Laredo rent is 49% cheaper than Seattle
Seattle
$2,030/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Laredo is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $1,000/month back in your pocket ($12,000/year). Over five years that's $60,000 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 Seattle, 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
94% higher
Seattle's median income is 94% higher than Laredo
Seattle
Winner$123,860
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 94% higher in Seattle (about $59,945 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, Seattle 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
64% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 64% lower than Seattle
Seattle
252 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 252 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 64% 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. Seattle 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 Seattle
Seattle
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Seattle averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Seattle 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 Seattle 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
Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 94% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 49% 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 Seattle on this page's weather index by 39%. Seattle 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 64% lower than Seattle (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 $2,030 in Seattle. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $123,860 in Seattle, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Seattle's $2,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $63,915 in Laredo.
If housing cost drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match ($1,030/month rent against $2,030). If an employer or family tie already points to Seattle, treat $2,030/month rent and $123,860 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Laredo?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Seattle and Laredo, plus other cities in WA and TX.
