Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
San Diego
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $619k less ($164,400 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $1112/mo less ($968 vs $2,080)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
11% less violent crime than San Diego
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $37,729/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,729 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
11% lower
365.8 vs 412.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$619k less
$164,400 vs $783,300
Laredo
Summer Heat
20.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$37,729
$98,657 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and San Diego wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Laredo to San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $783,300 median home), income ($60,928 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and San Diego, CA are about 1,113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.