City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Laredo. St Paul averages 50°F while Laredo averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,030.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul 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
St Paul and Laredo are 1,256 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $251 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $63,915 in Laredo, down $9,479 (13%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 90 in Laredo, down 76 points (46%).
The move
Laredo and St Paul are 1,256 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $251 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $73,394 in St Paul, up $9,479 (15%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 166 in St Paul, up 76 points (84%).
St Paul, MN
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 St Paul and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Laredo rent is 20% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Laredo is 20% 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 $3,012, 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 St Paul.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
St Paul's median income is 15% higher than Laredo
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 15% higher in St Paul (about $9,479 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, St Paul 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
46% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 46% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 46% 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. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°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 72% 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 St Paul 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
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul 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 20% 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 St Paul on this page's weather index by 72%. St Paul 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 46% lower than St Paul (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 45/100 in St Paul. Rent is $1,030/month in Laredo and $1,281/month in St Paul, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 45/100 in St Paul), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,281 in St Paul.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; St Paul only makes sense when you have walked the St Paul ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,281 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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