City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where El Paso and Las Vegas split most clearly. El Paso scores 51 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Las Vegas wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Las Vegas are 582 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $490 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $14,132 (24%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 138 in Las Vegas, up 51 points (59%).
The move
Las Vegas and El Paso are 582 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $490 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $59,745 in El Paso, down $14,132 (19%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 87 in El Paso, down 51 points (37%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
El Paso rent is 31% cheaper than Las Vegas
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so El Paso is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $490/month back in your pocket ($5,880/year). Over five years that's $29,400 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Las Vegas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 24% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Las Vegas (about $14,132 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, Las Vegas is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
37% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 37% lower than Las Vegas
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Las Vegas can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas sits near 71°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 31% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Las Vegas (87 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.
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 24% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 50/100 in Las Vegas. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,563/month in Las Vegas, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $59,745), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Median income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in El Paso; Las Vegas only makes sense when you have walked the Las Vegas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,563 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to El Paso?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for El Paso when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
