City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 188 in Dallas, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 179, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Dallas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Dallas and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 50 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Dallas and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Dallas wins on cost of living and Las Vegas wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Dallas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Las Vegas are 1,068 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $91 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $3,359 (5%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 138 in Las Vegas, down 50 points (27%).
The move
Las Vegas and Dallas are 1,068 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,472 a month in Dallas, down $91 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $70,518 in Dallas, down $3,359 (5%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 188 in Dallas, up 50 points (36%).
Dallas, 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 Dallas and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Dallas rent is 6% cheaper than Las Vegas
Dallas
Winner$1,472/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Dallas versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Dallas is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $91, or $1,092 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 Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 5% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Las Vegas (about $3,359 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
27% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 27% lower than Dallas
Dallas
188 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 188 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Dallas and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Dallas
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Dallas averages about 73°F (82°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Dallas sits near 73°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Dallas
Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Dallas 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 and professional growth
Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 27% lower than Dallas (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
Safety is the widest gap: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 41/100 in Dallas. Rent is $1,563/month in Las Vegas and $1,472/month in Dallas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Dallas rent at $1,472/month is still below Las Vegas's $1,563, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,472 in Dallas and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Las Vegas; Dallas only makes sense when you have walked the Dallas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Las Vegas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
