City Comparison

Killeen vs Laredo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Killeen

Texas
84
Very Affordable
$235,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$56,400
Median Income

Laredo

Texas
82
Very Affordable
$190,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$63,900
Median Income

The Verdict

2.4%

Laredo is 2.4% less expensive than Killeen overall. A household earning $75,000 in Killeen would need approximately $73,214 in Laredo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
56
Killeen
81
Laredo
Groceries
96
Killeen
91
Laredo
Utilities
108
Killeen
107
Laredo
Transportation
95
Killeen
90
Laredo
Healthcare
96
Killeen
77
Laredo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Killeen has the same purchasing power as $73,214 in Laredo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Laredo equals $76,829 in Killeen.

Living in Killeen vs Laredo

Housing Costs

Killeen's housing index of 56 is lower Laredo's 81, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $190,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Killeen compared to $1,075/mo in Laredo, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Killeen and 91 in Laredo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Killeen vs $432/month in Laredo. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Killeen and 107 in Laredo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Killeen vs $428 in Laredo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Killeen and 77 in Laredo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,400 in Killeen and $63,900 in Laredo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $67,143 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 $1,316/month to housing in Killeen vs $1,491/month in Laredo. In Killeen, median rent of $975/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 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Laredo is 2.4% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Killeen has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,214 in Laredo, based on the cost of living difference.
Killeen's housing index is 56 with median homes at $235,000, while Laredo's is 81 with median homes at $190,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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