City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 51 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 $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on cost of living and Garland 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Garland has rougher pockets and Las Vegas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Garland are 1,075 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $78 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $76,320 in Garland, up $2,443 (3%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 87 in Garland, down 51 points (37%).
The move
Garland and Las Vegas are 1,075 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $78 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $2,443 (3%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 138 in Las Vegas, up 51 points (59%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 5% cheaper than Garland
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,641 in Garland, so Las Vegas is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $78, or $936 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 Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Garland's median income is 3% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Garland (about $2,443 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
37% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 37% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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
Neck and neck
Las Vegas and Garland are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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 Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Las Vegas (87 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 Garland leads on safety (64/100 vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). Typical rent is $1,641 in Garland and $1,563 in Las Vegas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Garland's $1,641, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,641 in Garland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Garland; Las Vegas only makes sense when you have walked the Las Vegas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,563 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Garland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Garland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Garland, plus other cities in NV and TX.
