City comparison
Virginia Beach is safer than Laredo. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 90 in Laredo, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 99, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
The income gap between Virginia Beach and Laredo is significant: $92,968 median household versus $63,915. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,030 in Laredo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Laredo costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Virginia Beach and Laredo are 1,514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $684 a month (40%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $63,915 in Laredo, down $29,053 (31%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 90 in Laredo, up 28 points (45%).
The move
Laredo and Virginia Beach are 1,514 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $684 a month (66%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $29,053 (45%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 28 points (31%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
40% cheaper
Laredo rent is 40% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Laredo is 40% cheaper. That's roughly $684/month back in your pocket ($8,208/year). Over five years that's $41,040 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 Virginia Beach, 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
45% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 45% higher than Laredo
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 45% higher in Virginia Beach (about $29,053 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, Virginia Beach 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
31% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 31% lower than Laredo
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Laredo
90 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 90 in Laredo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Laredo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 6% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
63°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 94/100
Laredo
Winner78°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 63°F (67°F highs); Laredo averages about 78°F (86°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 63°F. Laredo sits near 78°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 6% 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 45% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Laredo (62 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.
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 40% 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 Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 6%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Laredo is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,030/month in Laredo versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $92,968 in Virginia Beach, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Virginia Beach's $1,714, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Virginia Beach and 63/100 in Laredo.
If housing cost drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match ($1,030/month rent against $1,714). If an employer or family tie already points to Virginia Beach, treat $1,714/month rent and $92,968 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Laredo, plus other cities in VA and TX.
