City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Baltimore split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 200 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 $1,331 in Baltimore.
Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore 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 Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Baltimore are 2,100 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $232 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $11,700 (16%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 338 in Baltimore, up 200 points (145%).
The move
Baltimore and Las Vegas are 2,100 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $232 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $11,700 (19%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 138 in Las Vegas, down 200 points (59%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Baltimore? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 15% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Baltimore 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 $2,784, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Baltimore still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 19% higher than Baltimore
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Baltimore
$62,177
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Las Vegas (about $11,700 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. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
59% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 59% lower than Baltimore
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas scores 39% 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 Baltimore 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 19% higher ($73,877), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 59% lower than Baltimore (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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Las Vegas: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 23/100 in Baltimore, with typical rent at $1,563 versus $1,331. I would vet the exact ZIP in Baltimore before trading 27 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Las Vegas vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
If safety drives your move, Las Vegas is the stronger match (50/100 safety versus 23/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Baltimore, treat $1,331/month rent and $62,177 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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