City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 133 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Denver makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Las Vegas is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Las Vegas are 605 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $268 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $20,841 (22%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 138 in Las Vegas, down 133 points (49%).
The move
Las Vegas and Denver are 605 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $268 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $94,718 in Denver, up $20,841 (28%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 271 in Denver, up 133 points (96%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 15% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,831 in Denver, so Las Vegas is 15% 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 $3,216, 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 Denver.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Denver's median income is 28% higher than Las Vegas
Denver
Winner$94,718
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Denver (about $20,841 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, Denver 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
49% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 49% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 49% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 16% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
60°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 86/100
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 60°F (70°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Denver averages around 60°F. Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas scores 16% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver 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
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
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 Denver on this page's weather index by 16%. Denver 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 49% lower than Denver (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
Denver carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). That 20-point spread matters more than the $268 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Denver and 74°F in Las Vegas.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Denver's case rests on a Denver ZIP you trust at $1,831 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Las Vegas, plus other cities in CO and NV.
