City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Chicago and Las Vegas are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,440 in Chicago and $1,563 in Las Vegas, and median household income lands at $77,902 versus $73,877. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Chicago is the easier city on typical rent, but Las Vegas can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
Chicago and Las Vegas are 1,520 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $123 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $4,025 (5%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 138 in Las Vegas, down 29 points (17%).
The move
Las Vegas and Chicago are 1,520 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $123 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $77,902 in Chicago, up $4,025 (5%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 167 in Chicago, up 29 points (21%).
Chicago, IL
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 Chicago and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Chicago rent is 8% cheaper than Las Vegas
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Chicago is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $123, or $1,476 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Chicago? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Chicago's median income is 5% higher than Las Vegas
Chicago
Winner$77,902
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Chicago (about $4,025 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 17% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% lower in Las Vegas. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Las Vegas is the easier city. Chicago can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 20% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
59°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 83/100
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 59°F (65°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Chicago averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Chicago if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,440 a month. Choose Chicago if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Chicago is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($77,902). Start with Chicago if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Chicago on this page's weather index by 20%. Chicago may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 17% lower than Chicago (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
On weather alone, Las Vegas is the warmer market (74°F) and Chicago the cooler (59°F). Typical leases run $1,563 and $1,440; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $123 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $77,902 in Chicago versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Between Chicago and Las Vegas, Las Vegas is ahead on climate — 74°F typical weather versus 59°F. Lean Chicago instead when you would rather tolerate 59°F than optimize for Las Vegas's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Chicago and Las Vegas, plus other cities in IL and NV.
