Median rent is 61% lower in Laredo ($1,030/mo vs $2,669/mo). Buying is cheaper in Laredo, where the median home runs $193,500 versus $1,233,200. Households earn more in San Jose ($146,427 vs $63,915 a year).
City A
Laredo, TX
City B
San Jose, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Jose, CA to maintain your standard of living from Laredo, TX?
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
Laredo
Texas
San Jose
California
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 $2,669/mo in San Jose, a 61% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in San Jose: the median home is $1,233,200 versus $193,500 in Laredo — 84% 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.
Laredo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Jose
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Jose has cleaner air on average: 65.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 71.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Jose if you prioritize higher median household income ($146,427/yr).
Pick Laredo if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,030/mo median).
Pick San Jose if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 65.0).
Is Laredo cheaper than San Jose?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Laredo vs San Jose?
Median rent is $1,030/mo in Laredo, TX and $2,669/mo in San Jose, CA. Laredo, TX has the lower rent by about 61%.
Which has higher salaries — Laredo or San Jose?
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo, TX and $146,427 in San Jose, CA. San Jose, CA 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?
San Jose, CA has better air quality on average: 65.0 AQI versus 71.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Laredo or San Jose?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in San Jose to match my Laredo 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
