CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Laredo, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Laredo
87
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Laredo is slightly cheaper than El Paso — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $77,400 in Laredo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing16.2%
El Paso
71.2
Laredo
59.7
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
El Paso
93.8
Laredo
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
El Paso
101.1
Laredo
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
El Paso
91.4
Laredo
91.4
Utilities2.4%
El Paso
82.6
Laredo
80.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in El Paso to see what you'd need to earn in Laredo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Laredo, TX
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Laredo

Formula: salary × (87 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 0.9677. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Laredo, TX

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
59.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.9×

El Paso has 16.2% lower housing costs compared to Laredo.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

Laredo, TX

Median Household Income
$60,200
Per Capita Income
$34,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
261,639
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Laredo, TX
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.