A Texas College Town Near The Mexico Border Is One Of The Best Places For Retirees

If you've been struggling with the cost of living in the United States in recent years as a retiree, you're not alone. According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly Social Security check in 2025 is $1,976. Comparing that to the average rent in the country — which is roughly $1800 a month, according to Zillow – and the average monthly cost of groceries – around $418 a month for an individual, according to Move.org — it's clear that your retirement income might not be enough to live comfortably in many states.

Outside of pursuing investment opportunities, another way to deal with the increasing cost of living in the United States is to move somewhere that is more affordable than where you currently live. One state in particular boasts a bevy of options for those hoping to solely rely on their Social Security income in retirement, Texas. If you're currently considering this option, a great option to relocate to might be Laredo. Outside of the fact Texas is a state without income taxes, living in Laredo will also ensure you can enjoy a cost of living that is far lower than the national average.

According to BestPlaces, Laredo's cost of living is about 18% below the U.S. national average. This being the case, you would need to make a minimum of $34,000 annually, as an individual, to be able to comfortably live in Laredo. When it comes to housing, rent prices are extremely low in Laredo, with the average studio and one bedroom apartment renting for around $850, and a two bedroom averaging around $1,060. In fact, even the average cost of renting a four bedroom home is just $1,470 a month. When you compare this to the U.S. national average of $2,160 for a 4 bedroom apartment it's clear that housing prices in Laredo can save you considerable amounts of money.

Now if you're looking to purchase a home instead of renting, the average home price is between $190,000 and $230,000. This is far less than the U.S. national average price to buy a home, as of Q1 2025, was $416,000, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Outside of this, transportation costs in Laredo are about 16.6% lower than the national average, while food prices are around 12% lower than the national average.

Laredo is home to Texas A&M University, adding all of the benefits of a bustling college town to your list of things to do. This includes an abundance of shopping and dining options as well as sports events at the university. Laredo also offers opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. For example, you can start by visiting the Lake Casa Blanca International State Park or hiking at the San Bernardo Creek Nature Trails.

What's even better is that since Laredo is so far south it stays sunny for the majority of the year, with average temperatures ranging in the 80s and 90s in the summer, and between the 40s and 70s in the winter. This being the case, if you've previously lived somewhere with rough winters, living in Laredo could be a nice change of pace. However, it's important to know that hot summer temperatures can get well over 100 degrees in Laredo. It is also worth noting that you will more than likely need to have your own vehicle in order to get around in Laredo since there are limited public transportation options.