City comparison
No. Boise's crime index is 73 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 85 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Boise is cheaper. Median rent is $1,446 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Boise split most clearly. Boise scores 65 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 $1,446 in Boise.
Boise is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Las Vegas makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Boise is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Boise has rougher pockets and Las Vegas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Boise are 517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,446 a month in Boise, down $117 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $83,904 in Boise, up $10,027 (14%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 73 in Boise, down 65 points (47%).
The move
Boise and Las Vegas are 517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,446 a month in Boise to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $117 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $83,904 in Boise to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $10,027 (12%).
The crime index goes from 73 in Boise to 138 in Las Vegas, up 65 points (89%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Boise, ID
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Boise rent is 7% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Boise
Winner$1,446/mo
Typical rent runs $1,446 a month in Boise versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Boise is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $117, or $1,404 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 Boise? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Boise's median income is 14% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Boise
Winner$83,904
Median household income is $83,904 in Boise versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Boise (about $10,027 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, Boise 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
47% lower crime
Boise's crime index is 47% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Boise
Winner73 (100 = avg)
Boise's crime index is 73 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% lower in Boise. 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, Boise 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
33% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 33% more comfortable than Boise
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boise
56°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 75/100
Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs); Boise averages about 56°F (64°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Boise averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas scores 33% 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 Boise 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
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 Boise on this page's weather index by 33%. Boise may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Boise is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,446 a month. Choose Boise if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Boise is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($83,904). Start with Boise if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boise is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 47% lower than Las Vegas (73 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
Rent is nearly even: $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,446 in Boise (Boise is $117 lower). Boise median income is $83,904 versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, which surprises people who assume the bigger metro always pays more.
Both cities score 50/100 on safety in this comparison. The fork is climate: Las Vegas averages 74°F; Boise sits at 56°F with a much smaller job market.
Take Boise if you want Mountain West outdoors without desert summer and you can live in a smaller economy. Vegas is for hospitality, entertainment, or logistics careers that require the larger metro and a real summer AC budget.
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