Laredo vs Santa Fe
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Laredo
Santa Fe
The Verdict
Laredo is 29.9% less expensive than Santa Fe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Laredo would need approximately $107,012 in Santa Fe 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 $107,012 in Santa Fe.
Conversely, $75,000 in Santa Fe equals $52,564 in Laredo.
Living in Laredo vs Santa Fe
Housing Costs
Laredo's housing index of 81 is lower Santa Fe's 153, translating to median home prices of $190,000 vs $480,000. The $290,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,852 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Laredo compared to $1,600/mo in Santa Fe, a monthly difference of $525.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 91 in Laredo and 103 in Santa Fe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Laredo vs $489/month in Santa Fe. Laredo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Laredo and 96 in Santa Fe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Laredo vs $384 in Santa Fe. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 77 in Laredo and 95 in Santa Fe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $61,982 in Santa Fe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,927 and $52,976 respectively. Laredo residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,491/month to housing in Laredo vs $1,446/month in Santa Fe. In Laredo, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Santa Fe, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 72 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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