CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Laredo, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Laredo
87
overall index
$1,275/mo rent

Laredo is moderately cheaper than Gainesville — 10.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $72,000 in Laredo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing35.8%
Gainesville
93
Laredo
59.7
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Gainesville
96.2
Laredo
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Gainesville
103.8
Laredo
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Gainesville
93.9
Laredo
91.4
Utilities8.6%
Gainesville
88.2
Laredo
80.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Laredo, TX
$72,000
$8,000 less needed in Laredo

Formula: salary × (87 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.8997. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Laredo, TX

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

Gainesville has 35.8% lower housing costs compared to Laredo.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.