Killeen, TX vs Laredo, TX: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Laredo, TX has a modeled overall cost index 16.5% lower than Killeen, TX.

Killeen, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,130 / month
Laredo, TX · modeled 2BR rent: $1,170 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Killeen, TX and Laredo, TX using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Killeen, TX

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $911/month in Laredo, TX

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $139,063 in Laredo, TX

Regional cost estimates: Killeen, TX uses Austin, TX. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 16.5%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$911

Savings

Annual Impact

$10.9K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Killeen, TX

Population:160K

Cost Index:

97.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$118K

Laredo, TX

Population:255K

Cost Index:

81.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$187K

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Killeen, TX

The Lone Star State

160K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 160K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Laredo, TX

The Lone Star State

255K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 255K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Killeen, TX vs Laredo, TX

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Killeen, TX	Laredo, TX	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,505/mo	$1,730/mo	↓ $775less	30.9%
Other	$1,680/mo	$1,594/mo	↓ $85.29less	5.1%
Transportation	$1,239/mo	$1,315/mo	↑ $76.19more	6.2%
Healthcare	$585/mo	$514/mo	↓ $71.11less	12.2%
All Utilities	$538/mo	$504/mo	↓ $34.08less	6.3%
Groceries	$954/mo	$931/mo	↓ $22.28less	2.3%

Housing

↓ 30.9%

Killeen, TX

$2,505

Laredo, TX

$1,730

Difference

$775

less

Other

↓ 5.1%

Killeen, TX

$1,680

Laredo, TX

$1,594

Difference

$85.29

less

Transportation

↑ 6.2%

Killeen, TX

$1,239

Laredo, TX

$1,315

Difference

$76.19

Healthcare

↓ 12.2%

Killeen, TX

$585

Laredo, TX

$514

Difference

$71.11

less

All Utilities

↓ 6.3%

Killeen, TX

$538

Laredo, TX

$504

Difference

$34.08

less

Groceries

↓ 2.3%

Killeen, TX

$954

Laredo, TX

$931

Difference

$22.28

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$900

To$965

↑ $65.00

1 Bed

From$910

To$970

↑ $60.00

2 Bed

From$1,130

To$1,170

↑ $40.00

3 Bed

From$1,570

To$1,510

↓ $60.00

Killeen, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

Laredo, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $960–$980/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Killeen, TX

$6,589

Monthly in Laredo, TX

$911

Difference

Home Values

Killeen

Laredo

$118K

Median Value

$187K

↓ -4.5%

YoY Change

↑ +1.9%

↑ +31.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +3.4%

$118K

Price Range

$132K - $241K

Homes in Laredo are 58% more expensive than Killeen

Calculate payment - Killeen Calculate payment - Laredo

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Killeen, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Laredo, TX

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Texas State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Killeen, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

Laredo, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Killeen

Laredo

52 Moderate

Air Quality

45 Good

42.6%

Good Air Days

57.7%

98 High

Climate Risk

89 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌡

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

151 days

▲+2.5°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

98 days

Heat Days >95°F

151 days

Before moving from Killeen, TX to Laredo, TX

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Laredo, TX for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Killeen, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Killeen to Laredo moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Laredo, TX by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Killeen, TX vs Laredo, TX

How do the cost estimates for Killeen, TX and Laredo, TX compare?

Laredo, TX has a modeled overall cost index 16.5% lower than Killeen, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Killeen, TX, the model estimates $139,063 in Laredo, TX. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Killeen, TX and Laredo, TX?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,130/month in Killeen, TX and $1,170/month in Laredo, TX. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.