City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 142 in Raleigh, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 128, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
The income gap between Las Vegas and Raleigh is significant: $73,877 median household versus $85,395. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,572 in Raleigh.
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. Raleigh 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Las Vegas and Raleigh are 2,029 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $9 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $11,518 (16%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 142 in Raleigh, up 4 points (3%).
The move
Raleigh and Las Vegas are 2,029 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $9 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $11,518 (13%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 138 in Las Vegas, down 4 points (3%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 1% cheaper than Raleigh
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Las Vegas is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $9, or $108 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
16% higher
Raleigh's median income is 16% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Raleigh (about $11,518 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, Raleigh 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
3% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 3% lower than Raleigh
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
142 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 142 in Raleigh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Las Vegas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Las Vegas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Raleigh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 1% 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 (71°F) beat Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh 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 3% lower than Raleigh (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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Las Vegas is the warmer market (71°F) and Raleigh the cooler (60°F). Typical leases run $1,563 and $1,572; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 50/100 in Las Vegas and 49/100 in Raleigh.
Las Vegas wins on climate (71°F vs 60°F); Raleigh is the better fit if $1,572 rent and $85,395 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Raleigh, plus other cities in NV and NC.
