City Comparison
Laredo vs Brownsville
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Laredo scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Laredo
Brownsville
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Brownsville is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Laredo.
| Metric | Laredo | Brownsville | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,150 | 0% |
| Groceries | $380 | $380 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $170 | +3% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $210 | +5% |
| Monthly Total | $2,035 | $2,020 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 84 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Laredo offers similar average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Brownsville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Laredo is estimated at
$42,000 vs $42,000 in Brownsville.
| Metric | Laredo | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $48,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $42,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 57,143 idx | 58,537 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $45,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.8°F of each other.
For sunshine, Laredo comes out ahead with 48 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Laredo sees 0.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Laredo | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 77.60°F | 76.80°F |
| Summer High | 99.90°F | 91.50°F |
| Winter Low | 51.50°F | 57.40°F |
| Rainfall | 17.60 in | 30.60 in |
| Snowfall | 0.30 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 309 | 261 |
| Humidity | 58.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Brownsville scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Brownsville leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Laredo | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 41.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Laredo is the larger city
— approximately 1.3x the population of Brownsville.
From a growth perspective, Brownsville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Laredo has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Laredo | Brownsville |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 255,205 | 189,424 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 5.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Laredo
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the US national average per Census and Zillow data.
Laredo ranks consistently as one of the safest large cities in the United States per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data.
Positioned as the nation's largest inland port of entry, offering robust career opportunities in logistics and international trade.
Warm subtropical climate with over 300 sunny days per year per meteorological data.
Rich cultural heritage, vibrant community life, and a strong bilingual environment.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures routinely exceed 100°F, requiring high energy consumption for air conditioning.
Average wages trail the national average due to the dominant concentration of trade and logistics roles.
Limited public transit options require high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commuting.
Lower-than-average educational attainment rates compared to major Texas metropolitan areas per ACS data.
Geographic isolation from other major US metropolitan centers, with San Antonio being the closest large city over 150 miles away.
Brownsville
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the U.S. national average per Census and Zillow data.
Rapidly growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors driven by SpaceX operations in the region.
Abundant sunshine with an average of 261 sunny days per year and mild winter temperatures.
Rich cultural heritage, bilingual community, and close proximity to South Padre Island beaches and nature sanctuaries.
Expanding higher education and healthcare infrastructure anchored by UTRGV and regional medical centers.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures are high and humid, requiring heavy reliance on air conditioning.
Average household incomes and wages trail state and national benchmarks.
High reliance on automobile transportation with limited heavy rail or rapid transit options.
Vulnerability to severe weather events and tropical storms coming off the Gulf of Mexico.
Poverty rates remain above the national average despite recent economic diversification.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Laredo
#55Texas, USA
70.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
84
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
309/yr
Avg Temp
77.60°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
73
Business
75
Brownsville
#229Texas, USA
62.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$48,000
Cost Index
82
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
261/yr
Avg Temp
76.80°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.80%
Livability
72
Business
73
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