City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 197 in Atlanta, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 193, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,711 in Atlanta.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Atlanta split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 59 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,711 in Atlanta.
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. Atlanta 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 Atlanta has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Atlanta are 1,742 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,711 a month in Atlanta, up $148 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $85,652 in Atlanta, up $11,775 (16%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 197 in Atlanta, up 59 points (43%).
The move
Atlanta and Las Vegas are 1,742 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,711 a month in Atlanta to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $148 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $85,652 in Atlanta to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $11,775 (14%).
The crime index goes from 197 in Atlanta to 138 in Las Vegas, down 59 points (30%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Atlanta, GA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Atlanta? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 9% cheaper than Atlanta
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Atlanta
$1,711/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,711 in Atlanta, so Las Vegas is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $148, or $1,776 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
16% higher
Atlanta's median income is 16% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Atlanta
Winner$85,652
Median household income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Atlanta (about $11,775 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, Atlanta 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
30% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 30% lower than Atlanta
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Atlanta
197 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 197 in Atlanta (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 30% 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. Atlanta can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 12% more comfortable than Atlanta
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Atlanta
61°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 89/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Atlanta averages about 61°F (70°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Atlanta averages around 61°F. Las Vegas scores 12% 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 Atlanta if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 9% 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 (75°F) beat Atlanta on this page's weather index by 12%. Atlanta 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 30% lower than Atlanta (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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Atlanta is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($85,652). Start with Atlanta if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Las Vegas leads on safety (50/100 vs 39/100 in Atlanta). Typical rent is $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,711 in Atlanta; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Las Vegas vs 39/100 in Atlanta), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $85,652 in Atlanta versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Between Las Vegas and Atlanta, Las Vegas is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 39/100. Lean Atlanta instead when you already know the Atlanta block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Atlanta, plus other cities in NV and GA.
