Moving from Houston, TX to Laredo, TX
It is a 346 mi drive, roughly 6h 3m, between Houston, TX and Laredo, TX. At mid-range distance you typically see real gaps open up on cost of living, home values, and climate — not just scenery. This page assembles the comparison from federal data sources and Zillow Research for a single-page view of the move.
346 mi · 6h 3m by car · TX
Distance & route
| Route through | TX |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 10, US 90, I 35 |
| Major cities en route | Pasadena, Pearland, League City, Sugar Land, San Antonio |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Houston | Laredo | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 98.629 | 86.956 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 95.288 | 80.614 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 100.639 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 104.51 | 59.746 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 11.8% cheaper overall in Laredo than Houston on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing comes in 11.8% under Houston — $264,336 → $220,331 on the latest ZHVI.
YoY change: Houston -2.9%, Laredo +2.5%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Houston | Laredo |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 71°F | 75°F |
| January avg low | 44°F | 47°F |
| July avg high | 93°F | 100°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 54.1" | 19.7" |
No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.
Effectively snow-free year in Laredo — NOAA normals show near-zero annual snowfall.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: HOUSTON-PORT, TX US, LAREDO 2, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Houston | Laredo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | 255,949 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $63,264 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 29.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 15.1% |
| Avg household size | 2.51 | 3.36 |
No material income gap at the median: ACS 2023 puts both cities within 5%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Laredo MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 15,810 | $34,040 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 15,300 | $35,870 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 10,740 | $23,180 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 9,360 | $28,410 |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 9,330 | $22,560 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Laredo average 100°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Laredo compare to Houston?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $35,220 in the Laredo MSA vs $46,960 in the Houston MSA, on total employment of 104,610 and 3,179,460 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
What is the climate difference between Houston and Laredo?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 75.0°F in Laredo vs 70.6°F in Houston (4.4°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 19.7 in vs 54.1 in.
When is the best time to move from Houston to Laredo?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 346 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How much do homes cost in Laredo compared to Houston?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $220,331 in Laredo vs $264,336 in Houston — a 16.6% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
How far is Laredo, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance is 346 mi and the route typically takes 6h 3m via I 10 and US 90. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Is Laredo more expensive than Houston?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Laredo is 11.8% lower than Houston (86.956 vs 98.629, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does household income compare in Houston vs Laredo?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $63,264 in Laredo vs $62,894 in Houston — a 0.6% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Houston.
City profiles: Houston, TX · Laredo, TX.