Is Baltimore cheaper than Laredo?

No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,857 in Baltimore — 37% lower. Median household income is $58,349 in Baltimore compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Laredo has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Baltimore or Laredo?

Laredo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 112 in Baltimore — 3% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Baltimore or Laredo?

School composites are close: A- in Baltimore and A- in Laredo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Baltimore, MD vs Laredo, TX

Baltimore, MD versus Laredo, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,857 a month in Baltimore and $1,161 in Laredo, and median household income lands at $58,349 versus $60,928. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Baltimore takes weather, while Laredo takes affordability, job market, and safety. The widest gap is typical weather, where Baltimore leads by 89% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Baltimore can feel further apart than Baltimore and Laredo do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Baltimore and Laredo reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Baltimore report Full Laredo report

Baltimore, MD

Rent: $1,857/mo
Median income: $58,349
Crime index: 112
Schools: A-
Weather: 76°F

Laredo, TX

Rent: $1,161/mo
Median income: $60,928
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Laredo rent is 37% cheaper than Baltimore

Baltimore

$1,857/mo

Laredo

Winner

$1,161/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,161 a month in Laredo versus $1,857 in Baltimore, so Laredo is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $696/month back in your pocket — $8,352/year. Over five years that's $41,760 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 Baltimore, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Laredo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

4% higher

Laredo's median income is 4% higher than Baltimore

Baltimore

$58,349

Laredo

Winner

$60,928

What this means for your life

Median household income is $60,928 in Laredo versus $58,349 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Laredo — about $2,579 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

3% lower crime

Laredo's crime index is 3% lower than Baltimore

Baltimore

112 (100 = avg)

Laredo

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Laredo's crime index is 109 versus 112 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Laredo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Laredo, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Baltimore. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Baltimore and Laredo are about even on school scores.

Baltimore

A- · 84/100

Laredo

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Baltimore, A- in Laredo). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

89% more comfortable

Baltimore weather is 89% more comfortable than Laredo

Baltimore

Winner

76°F typical

Laredo

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Baltimore scores 89% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 76°F in Baltimore and 92°F in Laredo. Baltimore reads as warm weather most of the year; Laredo reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Baltimore is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Laredo can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Baltimore

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (76°F) beat Laredo on this page's weather index by 89%. Laredo may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Baltimore report →

Fit check

Who should choose Laredo

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,161 a month. Choose Laredo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Laredo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($60,928). Start with Laredo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Baltimore (109 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.

Open the Laredo report →

Bottom line

Baltimore vs Laredo, called

If weather is your priority, Baltimore is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Laredo pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Laredo offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Baltimore vs Laredo FAQ

Is Baltimore cheaper than Laredo?: No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,857 in Baltimore — 37% lower. Median household income is $58,349 in Baltimore compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Laredo has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Baltimore or Laredo?: Laredo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 112 in Baltimore — 3% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Baltimore or Laredo?: School composites are close: A- in Baltimore and A- in Laredo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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