Brownsville, TX vs Laredo, TX

Brownsville is moderately more affordable than Laredo, with a 11.4% lower cost of living index. Brownsville scores 68 compared to 76 for Laredo, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Laredo can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Brownsville is $906/month compared to $1,001/month in Laredo — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Brownsville is more affordable at $122,400 median vs $182,400.

Median household income in Brownsville is $48,675 compared to $63,264 in Laredo (-23.1%). While Laredo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Brownsville spend roughly 22.3% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Laredo.