City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 434 in Oakland, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 491, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,979 in Oakland.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Oakland split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 296 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 $1,979 in Oakland.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on cost of living and safety and Oakland 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 Oakland are 409 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,979 a month in Oakland, up $416 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $101,600 in Oakland, up $27,723 (38%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 434 in Oakland, up 296 points (214%).
The move
Oakland and Las Vegas are 409 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,979 a month in Oakland to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $416 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $101,600 in Oakland to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $27,723 (27%).
The crime index goes from 434 in Oakland to 138 in Las Vegas, down 296 points (68%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Oakland, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Oakland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 21% cheaper than Oakland
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Oakland
$1,979/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,979 in Oakland, so Las Vegas is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $416/month back in your pocket ($4,992/year). Over five years that's $24,960 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 Oakland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Las Vegas 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
38% higher
Oakland's median income is 38% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Oakland
Winner$101,600
Median household income is $101,600 in Oakland versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Oakland (about $27,723 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, Oakland 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
68% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 68% lower than Oakland
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Oakland
434 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 434 in Oakland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Oakland 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 Oakland are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oakland
68°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Oakland averages about 68°F (80°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Oakland 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
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 21% 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 68% lower than Oakland (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
Oakland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 38% higher here ($101,600). Start with Oakland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Oakland carries the heavier crime signal on this page (15/100 safety vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). That 35-point spread matters more than the $416 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Oakland's $1,979, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,979 in Oakland.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Oakland's case rests on a Oakland ZIP you trust at $1,979 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Oakland, plus other cities in NV and CA.
