Laredo vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Laredo
St. Paul
The Verdict
Laredo is 18.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Laredo would need approximately $91,463 in St. Paul 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 $91,463 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $61,500 in Laredo.
Living in Laredo vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Laredo's housing index of 81 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $190,000 vs $260,000. The $70,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,548 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Laredo compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 91 in Laredo and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $432/month in Laredo vs $489/month in St. Paul. 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 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Laredo vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 77 in Laredo and 105 in St. Paul. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 28-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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $77,927 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Laredo, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases