City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Milwaukee is cheaper. Median rent is $1,059 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Milwaukee split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 128 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 $1,059 in Milwaukee.
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. Milwaukee 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. Milwaukee at $1,059 average has pockets that run $859 and others at $1,459: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and Milwaukee are 1,517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, down $504 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $19,643 (27%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 266 in Milwaukee, up 128 points (93%).
The move
Milwaukee and Las Vegas are 1,517 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $504 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $19,643 (36%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 138 in Las Vegas, down 128 points (48%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Milwaukee? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Milwaukee rent is 32% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Milwaukee
Winner$1,059/mo
Typical rent runs $1,059 a month in Milwaukee versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Milwaukee is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $504/month back in your pocket ($6,048/year). Over five years that's $30,240 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, Milwaukee 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
36% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 36% higher than Milwaukee
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Milwaukee
$54,234
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Las Vegas (about $19,643 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. Milwaukee can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
48% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 48% lower than Milwaukee
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 48% 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. Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 36% higher ($73,877), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°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 48% lower than Milwaukee (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 Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,059 a month. Choose Milwaukee if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Milwaukee carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). That 20-point spread matters more than the $504 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $54,234), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Weather averages land near 75°F in Las Vegas and 55°F in Milwaukee.
Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Milwaukee deserves a serious look only when you already know the Milwaukee block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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