City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Austin and Las Vegas is significant: $93,658 median household versus $73,877. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on the job market and Las Vegas wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Las Vegas are 1,083 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $166 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $19,781 (21%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 138 in Las Vegas, down 24 points (15%).
The move
Las Vegas and Austin are 1,083 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $166 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $93,658 in Austin, up $19,781 (27%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 162 in Austin, up 24 points (17%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 10% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,729 in Austin, so Las Vegas is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,992, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Las Vegas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
27% higher
Austin's median income is 27% higher than Las Vegas
Austin
Winner$93,658
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 27% higher in Austin (about $19,781 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
15% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 15% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% lower in Las Vegas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Las Vegas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Austin
76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 27% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,563 a month. Choose Las Vegas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 15% lower than Austin (138 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Austin median income is $93,658 versus $73,877 in Las Vegas (21% higher). Rent still runs $1,729/month in Austin and $1,563/month in Las Vegas, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Austin rates.
With only $166 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,729 in Austin.
If local pay drives your move, Austin is the stronger match ($93,658 median income against $73,877). If an employer or family tie already points to Las Vegas, treat $1,563/month rent and $73,877 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Las Vegas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
