Laredo vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Laredo
Medford
The Verdict
Laredo is 22.6% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Laredo would need approximately $96,951 in Medford 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 Laredo has the same purchasing power as $96,951 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $58,019 in Laredo.
Living in Laredo vs Medford
Housing Costs
Laredo's housing index of 81 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $190,000 vs $406,000. The $216,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,040 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Laredo compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 91 in Laredo and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Laredo vs $513/month in Medford. Laredo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Laredo and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Laredo vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 77 in Laredo and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 23-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $63,900 in Laredo and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,927 and $69,057 respectively. Laredo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,491/month to housing in Laredo vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Laredo, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 58 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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