CostIndexUSA

Charleston, SC vs Laredo, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Charleston
101
overall index
$1,950/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Laredo
87
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Laredo is moderately cheaper than Charleston — 13.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charleston, you would need $68,900 in Laredo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing50.2%
Charleston
119.8
Laredo
59.7
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Charleston
96.3
Laredo
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.0%
Charleston
103.2
Laredo
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.1%
Charleston
93.4
Laredo
91.4
Utilities8.6%
Charleston
88.2
Laredo
80.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charleston to see what you'd need to earn in Laredo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Laredo, TX
$68,900
$11,100 less needed in Laredo

Formula: salary × (87 ÷ 101) = salary × 0.8614. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charleston, SC

Median Home Price
$425,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Housing Index
119.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Laredo, TX

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
59.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.9×

Charleston has 50.2% lower housing costs compared to Laredo.

Income & Job Market

Charleston, SC

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
150,227
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareTechnologyManufacturing

Laredo, TX

Median Household Income
$60,200
Per Capita Income
$34,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
261,639
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charleston, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Laredo, TX
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.