Median rent is 49% lower in Laredo ($1,030/mo vs $2,007/mo). Buying is cheaper in Laredo, where the median home runs $193,500 versus $566,900. Households earn more in Jersey City ($97,710 vs $63,915 a year).
City A
Jersey City, NJ
City B
Laredo, TX
How much would you need to earn in Laredo, TX to maintain your standard of living from Jersey City, NJ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Jersey City
New Jersey
Laredo
Texas
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Laredo — median rent of $1,030/mo versus $2,007/mo in Jersey City, a 49% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Jersey City: the median home is $566,900 versus $193,500 in Laredo — 66% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Jersey City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Laredo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Jersey City has cleaner air on average: 46.0 AQI (Good) compared to 71.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,710/yr).
Pick Laredo if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,030/mo median).
Pick Jersey City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 46.0).
Is Jersey City cheaper than Laredo?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Jersey City vs Laredo?
Median rent is $2,007/mo in Jersey City, NJ and $1,030/mo in Laredo, TX. Laredo, TX has the lower rent by about 49%.
Which has higher salaries — Jersey City or Laredo?
Median household income is $97,710 in Jersey City, NJ and $63,915 in Laredo, TX. Jersey City, NJ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Jersey City, NJ has better air quality on average: 46.0 AQI versus 71.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Jersey City or Laredo?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Laredo to match my Jersey City income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
