City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 187 in Long Beach, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 189, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,871 in Long Beach.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Long Beach split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 49 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 $1,871 in Long Beach.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on cost of living and safety and Long Beach wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Las Vegas at $1,563 average has pockets that run $1,363 and others at $1,963: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and Long Beach are 240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,871 a month in Long Beach, up $308 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $87,430 in Long Beach, up $13,553 (18%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 187 in Long Beach, up 49 points (36%).
The move
Long Beach and Las Vegas are 240 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,871 a month in Long Beach to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $308 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $87,430 in Long Beach to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $13,553 (16%).
The crime index goes from 187 in Long Beach to 138 in Las Vegas, down 49 points (26%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Long Beach, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Long Beach? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 16% cheaper than Long Beach
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Long Beach
$1,871/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,871 in Long Beach, so Las Vegas is 16% 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 $3,696, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Las Vegas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Long Beach.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Long Beach's median income is 18% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Long Beach
Winner$87,430
Median household income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Long Beach (about $13,553 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, Long Beach 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
26% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 26% lower than Long Beach
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Long Beach
187 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 187 in Long Beach (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 26% 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. Long Beach 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 Long Beach are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Long Beach
71°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Long Beach averages about 71°F (77°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Long Beach sits near 71°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% 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.
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 26% lower than Long Beach (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
Long Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($87,430). Start with Long Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Las Vegas at $1,563/month versus $1,871 in Long Beach ($308 apart). Long Beach median income is $87,430 against $73,877 in Las Vegas, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Long Beach's $1,871, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,430 in Long Beach versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Pick Las Vegas when shaving $308 off rent at $1,563/month is the priority. Otherwise, Long Beach's case rests on $1,871/month rent with $87,430 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Long Beach, plus other cities in NV and CA.
