City comparison
No. North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 167 in Chicago, and its violent crime index is 110 versus 139, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Chicago is cheaper. Median rent is $1,440 a month versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Chicago and North Las Vegas. Chicago averages 53°F while North Las Vegas averages 76°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,440 versus $1,705.
North Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Chicago makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone North Las Vegas is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Chicago at $1,440 average has pockets that run $1,240 and others at $1,840: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Chicago and North Las Vegas are 1,518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,440 a month in Chicago to $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas, up $265 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $77,902 in Chicago to $79,542 in North Las Vegas, up $1,640 (2%).
The crime index goes from 167 in Chicago to 110 in North Las Vegas, down 57 points (34%).
The move
North Las Vegas and Chicago are 1,518 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,705 a month in North Las Vegas to $1,440 a month in Chicago, down $265 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $79,542 in North Las Vegas to $77,902 in Chicago, down $1,640 (2%).
The crime index goes from 110 in North Las Vegas to 167 in Chicago, up 57 points (52%).
Chicago, IL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
North Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Chicago and North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Chicago rent is 16% cheaper than North Las Vegas
Chicago
Winner$1,440/mo
North Las Vegas
$1,705/mo
Typical rent runs $1,440 a month in Chicago versus $1,705 in North Las Vegas, so Chicago is 16% 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 $3,180, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Chicago still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in North Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in North Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
North Las Vegas's median income is 2% higher than Chicago
Chicago
$77,902
North Las Vegas
Winner$79,542
Median household income is $79,542 in North Las Vegas versus $77,902 in Chicago, so typical pay runs 2% higher in North Las Vegas (about $1,640 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
34% lower crime
North Las Vegas's crime index is 34% lower than Chicago
Chicago
167 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas
Winner110 (100 = avg)
North Las Vegas's crime index is 110 versus 167 in Chicago (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in North 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, North 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
52% more comfortable
North Las Vegas weather is 52% more comfortable than Chicago
Chicago
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
North Las Vegas
Winner76°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Chicago averages about 53°F (60°F highs); North Las Vegas averages about 76°F (82°F highs). Chicago averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. North Las Vegas sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. North Las Vegas scores 52% 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Chicago
Chicago is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 2% higher ($79,542), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
North 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 34% lower than Chicago (110 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,705/month rent in North Las Vegas at 76°F versus $1,440 in Chicago at 53°F. Income runs $79,542 vs $77,902, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
North Las Vegas still pays more locally ($79,542 median income vs $77,902), which can offset the lease if your field pays North Las Vegas rates.
Typical rent stays $1,440 in Chicago and $1,705 in North Las Vegas.
Between Chicago and North Las Vegas, North Las Vegas is ahead on climate — 76°F typical weather versus 53°F. Lean Chicago instead when you would rather tolerate 53°F than optimize for North Las Vegas's comfort score.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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