CostIndexUSA

Laredo, TX vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Laredo
87
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is slightly cheaper than Laredo — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Laredo, you would need $76,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.3%
Laredo
59.7
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Laredo
93.8
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Laredo
101.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Laredo
91.4
Monroe
90.9
Utilities10.4%
Laredo
80.6
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$76,900
$3,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 87) = salary × 0.9609. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Laredo, TX

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

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Laredo has 28.3% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Laredo, TX

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

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Laredo, TX
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.