City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 374 in Detroit, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 496, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Detroit is cheaper. Median rent is $1,132 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Detroit split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 236 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 $1,132 in Detroit.
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. Detroit 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Detroit at $1,132 average has pockets that run $932 and others at $1,532: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and Detroit are 1,758 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,132 a month in Detroit, down $431 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $60,539 in Detroit, down $13,338 (18%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 374 in Detroit, up 236 points (171%).
The move
Detroit and Las Vegas are 1,758 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,132 a month in Detroit to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $431 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $60,539 in Detroit to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $13,338 (22%).
The crime index goes from 374 in Detroit to 138 in Las Vegas, down 236 points (63%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Detroit, MI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Detroit? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Detroit rent is 28% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Detroit
Winner$1,132/mo
Typical rent runs $1,132 a month in Detroit versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Detroit is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $431/month back in your pocket ($5,172/year). Over five years that's $25,860 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, Detroit is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 22% higher than Detroit
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Detroit
$60,539
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $60,539 in Detroit, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Las Vegas (about $13,338 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. Detroit can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
63% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 63% lower than Detroit
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Detroit
374 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 374 in Detroit (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% 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. Detroit 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 Detroit
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Detroit
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Detroit 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. Detroit 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 Detroit 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 22% 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 63% lower than Detroit (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 Detroit
Detroit is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,132 a month. Choose Detroit if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 20/100 in Detroit. Rent is $1,563/month in Las Vegas and $1,132/month in Detroit, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $60,539), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Weather averages land near 71°F in Las Vegas and 55°F in Detroit.
Between Las Vegas and Detroit, Las Vegas is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 20/100. Lean Detroit instead when you already know the Detroit block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
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 Las Vegas and Detroit, plus other cities in NV and MI.
