City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Portland split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 127 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 $1,655 in Portland.
Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Portland 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 crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Portland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Portland are 756 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $92 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $90,919 in Portland, up $17,042 (23%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 265 in Portland, up 127 points (92%).
The move
Portland and Las Vegas are 756 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $92 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $17,042 (19%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 138 in Las Vegas, down 127 points (48%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Portland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 6% cheaper than Portland
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Portland
$1,655/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,655 in Portland, so Las Vegas is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $92, or $1,104 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 Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Portland's median income is 23% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Portland
Winner$90,919
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Portland (about $17,042 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, Portland 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
48% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 48% lower than Portland
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 265 in Portland (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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Portland averages around 60°F. Las Vegas scores 16% 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 Portland if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 6% 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.
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 Portland (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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 30/100 in Portland. Rent is $1,563/month in Las Vegas and $1,655/month in Portland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Las Vegas vs 30/100 in Portland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Las Vegas; Portland only makes sense when you have walked the Portland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,655 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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