Laredo, TX vs Brownsville, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Brownsville, TX is 1.1% less expensive than Laredo, TX (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Laredo works out to about $74,200 in Brownsville, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher in Brownsville, while housing is 3.4% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,509 a month in Brownsville and $1,129 in Laredo, $4,560 a year more in Brownsville (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $205,000 in Brownsville and $215,000 in Laredo.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Brownsville was 3.4% less expensive than Laredo.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Laredo and Brownsville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.0 | 86.0 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 59.7 | 57.7 |
| Utilities | 80.6 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | Laredo | Brownsville | Brownsville vs Laredo |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.0 | 86.0 | −1.1% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 59.7 | 57.7 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 80.6 | 81.2 | +0.7% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,129 | $1,509 | +33.7% |
| Typical home value | $215,000 | $205,000 | −5.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Laredo | $75,000 | $74,200 | −1.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Laredo and Brownsville has narrowed since 2008: 6.5 points then, 1.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.6 | 85.0 |
| 2009 | 90.0 | 86.2 |
| 2010 | 91.0 | 87.1 |
| 2011 | 92.0 | 89.6 |
| 2012 | 92.4 | 89.2 |
| 2013 | 91.6 | 87.6 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 87.9 |
| 2015 | 94.1 | 88.4 |
| 2016 | 93.7 | 89.5 |
| 2017 | 90.6 | 88.0 |
| 2018 | 90.6 | 85.1 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 87.7 |
| 2020 | 91.7 | 85.0 |
| 2021 | 89.5 | 87.8 |
| 2022 | 90.1 | 85.1 |
| 2023 | 88.3 | 85.7 |
| 2024 | 87.0 | 86.0 |
Goods
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 66.4 | 49.9 |
| 2009 | 64.6 | 54.9 |
| 2010 | 63.7 | 54.0 |
| 2011 | 68.3 | 61.3 |
| 2012 | 68.6 | 59.4 |
| 2013 | 66.5 | 54.8 |
| 2014 | 71.4 | 56.0 |
| 2015 | 75.2 | 55.3 |
| 2016 | 73.3 | 60.1 |
| 2017 | 63.6 | 56.6 |
| 2018 | 69.5 | 52.9 |
| 2019 | 68.2 | 60.1 |
| 2020 | 69.3 | 49.5 |
| 2021 | 60.6 | 55.7 |
| 2022 | 69.7 | 54.3 |
| 2023 | 64.3 | 55.7 |
| 2024 | 59.7 | 57.7 |
Utilities
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.4 | 100.9 |
| 2009 | 96.0 | 95.5 |
| 2010 | 95.3 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 90.2 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 88.3 | 88.5 |
| 2013 | 89.4 | 89.6 |
| 2014 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2015 | 90.5 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 86.1 | 85.8 |
| 2017 | 81.2 | 81.5 |
| 2018 | 82.9 | 83.2 |
| 2019 | 84.9 | 85.4 |
| 2020 | 84.9 | 85.1 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 84.7 |
| 2022 | 85.7 | 86.4 |
| 2023 | 88.4 | 88.1 |
| 2024 | 80.6 | 81.2 |
Other services
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,509 in Brownsville vs $1,129 in Laredo
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $869 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $897 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $893 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $879 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $911 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $919 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $906 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $805 | $922 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $805 | $906 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $808 | $935 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $821 | $929 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $821 | $952 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $836 | $940 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $843 | $953 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $838 | $942 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $847 | $970 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $852 | $978 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $852 | $988 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $854 | $985 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $852 | $1,006 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $859 | $1,022 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $874 | $1,042 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $860 | $1,055 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $868 | $1,076 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $886 | $1,100 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $932 | $1,147 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $951 | $1,167 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $979 | $1,191 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $991 | $1,238 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,004 | $1,256 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $997 | $1,296 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,013 | $1,306 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,039 | $1,322 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,072 | $1,343 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,071 | $1,348 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | – | $1,364 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,085 | $1,391 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,111 | $1,373 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,095 | $1,401 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,139 | $1,420 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,141 | $1,431 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,118 | $1,436 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,099 | $1,442 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,125 | $1,475 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,151 | $1,521 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,129 | $1,509 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $205,000 in Brownsville vs $215,000 in Laredo
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Laredo, TX
- Brownsville, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Laredo, TX | Brownsville, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $140K | $118K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $143K | $121K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $146K | $122K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $149K | $121K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $149K | $122K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $150K | $122K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $152K | $122K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $153K | $123K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $153K | $126K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $154K | $126K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $155K | $127K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $156K | $127K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $157K | $127K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $159K | $127K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $161K | $127K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $162K | $128K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $164K | $124K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $164K | $123K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $168K | $125K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $170K | $127K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $172K | $130K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $175K | $132K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $180K | $138K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $181K | $142K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $187K | $148K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $190K | $157K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $195K | $165K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $198K | $171K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $201K | $178K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $206K | $184K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $208K | $186K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $207K | $188K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $209K | $193K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $215K | $198K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $215K | $198K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $209K | $197K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $207K | $201K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $208K | $204K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $207K | $201K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $208K | $202K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $210K | $203K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $210K | $203K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $211K | $202K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $213K | $202K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $216K | $206K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $216K | $206K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $215K | $205K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.