City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Jacksonville 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 $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,563 in Las Vegas, and median household income lands at $69,872 versus $73,877. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Jacksonville 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.
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
Jacksonville and Las Vegas are 1,966 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $98 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $4,005 (6%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 138 in Las Vegas, down 12 points (8%).
The move
Las Vegas and Jacksonville are 1,966 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $98 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $4,005 (5%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 150 in Jacksonville, up 12 points (9%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 6% cheaper than Las Vegas
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Jacksonville is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $98, or $1,176 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
6% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 6% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Las Vegas (about $4,005 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
8% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 8% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in Las Vegas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Las Vegas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Jacksonville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Jacksonville and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Jacksonville
79°F avg · 86°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 79°F (86°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 79°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 Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville 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 6% 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 8% lower than Jacksonville (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Las Vegas leads on safety (50/100 vs 48/100 in Jacksonville). Typical rent is $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,465 in Jacksonville; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Jacksonville rent at $1,465/month is still below Las Vegas's $1,563, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is ahead on safety (50/100 vs 48/100); Jacksonville is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,465/month rent plus $69,872 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
Ready to move to Las Vegas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Jacksonville and Las Vegas, plus other cities in FL and NV.
