Bethlehem vs Laredo
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bethlehem
Laredo
The Verdict
Laredo is 18.3% less expensive than Bethlehem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bethlehem would need approximately $63,402 in Laredo to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bethlehem has the same purchasing power as $63,402 in Laredo.
Conversely, $75,000 in Laredo equals $88,720 in Bethlehem.
Living in Bethlehem vs Laredo
Housing Costs
Bethlehem's housing index of 110 is higher Laredo's 81, translating to median home prices of $258,000 vs $190,000. The $68,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,416 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Bethlehem compared to $1,075/mo in Laredo, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Bethlehem and 91 in Laredo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Bethlehem vs $432/month in Laredo. Laredo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Bethlehem and 107 in Laredo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Bethlehem vs $428 in Laredo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 83 in Bethlehem and 77 in Laredo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,600 in Bethlehem and $63,900 in Laredo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,536 and $77,927 respectively. Laredo residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Bethlehem vs $1,491/month in Laredo. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/mo fits within this budget. In Laredo, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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