City Comparison
Laredo vs San Antonio
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Laredo scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Laredo
San Antonio
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Laredo is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
26% lower than in San Antonio.
Housing costs are a major driver: Laredo's average rent is
36% lower than San Antonio's.
| Metric | Laredo | San Antonio | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,150 | $1,805 | -36% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $2,035 | $2,755 | -26% |
| Cost Index | 84 | 91 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
San Antonio offers 37% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, San Antonio delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Laredo is estimated at
$42,000 vs $85,000 in San Antonio.
| Metric | Laredo | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $48,000 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $85,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 57,143 idx | 83,516 idx |
| Household Income | $58,500 | $66,176 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Laredo runs warmer on average — a 77.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Laredo comes out ahead with 309 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 | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 77.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 99.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 51.50°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.60 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.30 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 309 | |
| Humidity | 58.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Laredo has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to San Antonio.
San Antonio scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Laredo leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Laredo | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 72.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 41.00 | 25.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
San Antonio is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Laredo.
From a growth perspective, San Antonio 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 | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 255,205 | 1,572,360 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 1.55% |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 34.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.90% | 4.80% |
| 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.
San Antonio
Advantages
San Antonio's cost of living is approximately 9% lower than the national average, making it an affordable major U.S. city.
The city has demonstrated strong job growth, projected to lead Texas in 2025 and ranking as the third-fastest-growing major job market in 2024.
San Antonio's population continues to grow, with an estimated 1.55% annual increase, driven by both domestic and international migration.
Public transportation, particularly VIA Metropolitan Transit, received the highest customer satisfaction rating in the U.S. for transit agencies in 2024.
Overall crime in San Antonio fell by more than 13% in 2025, with significant drops in both violent and property crimes.
Drawbacks
The median household income in San Antonio, at $66,176 in 2024, remains below the national average.
Healthcare costs in San Antonio are slightly higher than the national average.
Despite a highly-rated public transit system, San Antonio is largely car-dependent with a low overall walkability score for much of the city.
The San Antonio housing market experienced a slight decline in median home prices by 2.6% year-over-year as of May 2026.
Traffic congestion is a concern, with San Antonio ranking as the 25th most congested city in the U.S. in 2025.
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
San Antonio
#539Texas, USA
49.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,805
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
91
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
72.0/100
Walkability
37.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.55%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
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