City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Memphis split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 357 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 $1,181 in Memphis.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on the job market and safety and Memphis wins on cost of living. 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and Memphis are 1,406 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $382 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $51,736 in Memphis, down $22,141 (30%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 495 in Memphis, up 357 points (259%).
The move
Memphis and Las Vegas are 1,406 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $382 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $22,141 (43%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 138 in Las Vegas, down 357 points (72%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Memphis, TN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Memphis rent is 24% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Memphis is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $382/month back in your pocket ($4,584/year). Over five years that's $22,920 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, Memphis 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
43% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 43% higher than Memphis
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Memphis
$51,736
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Las Vegas (about $22,141 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
72% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 72% lower than Memphis
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Memphis 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 Memphis are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis
68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Memphis sits near 68°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 72% lower than Memphis (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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Las Vegas leads on safety (50/100 vs 11/100 in Memphis). Typical rent is $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,181 in Memphis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Las Vegas's $1,563, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Las Vegas; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Memphis, plus other cities in NV and TN.
