City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Richmond is cheaper. Median rent is $1,372 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas and Richmond are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,372 in Richmond, and median household income lands at $73,877 versus $64,587. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
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. Richmond 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 Richmond are 2,071 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,372 a month in Richmond, down $191 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $64,587 in Richmond, down $9,290 (13%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 169 in Richmond, up 31 points (22%).
The move
Richmond and Las Vegas are 2,071 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $191 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $9,290 (14%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 138 in Las Vegas, down 31 points (18%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Richmond rent is 12% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Richmond
Winner$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,372 a month in Richmond versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Richmond is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,292, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Richmond still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 14% higher than Richmond
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Las Vegas (about $9,290 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 18% lower than Richmond
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% 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. Richmond can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
Las Vegas
Winner75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 14% 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 18% lower than Richmond (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 Richmond
Richmond is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,372 a month. Choose Richmond if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
On weather alone, Las Vegas is the warmer market (75°F) and Richmond the cooler (57°F). Typical leases run $1,563 and $1,372; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
With only $191 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,372 in Richmond and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Las Vegas; Richmond only makes sense when 57°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Richmond, plus other cities in NV and VA.
