City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Sacramento split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 43 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 $1,779 in Sacramento.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on cost of living and safety and Sacramento 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 crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Sacramento has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Sacramento are 386 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $216 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $13,444 (18%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 181 in Sacramento, up 43 points (31%).
The move
Sacramento and Las Vegas are 386 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $216 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $13,444 (15%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 138 in Las Vegas, down 43 points (24%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Sacramento, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Sacramento? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 12% cheaper than Sacramento
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Las Vegas 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 $2,592, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Las Vegas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Sacramento's median income is 18% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Sacramento (about $13,444 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, Sacramento 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
24% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 24% lower than Sacramento
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% 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. Sacramento 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 Sacramento are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
75°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 75°F (80°F highs); Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Sacramento sits near 71°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 12% 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 24% lower than Sacramento (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
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento 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 42/100 in Sacramento. Rent is $1,563/month in Las Vegas and $1,779/month in Sacramento, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,779 in Sacramento.
Between Las Vegas and Sacramento, Las Vegas is ahead on safety — 50/100 safety versus 42/100. Lean Sacramento instead when you already know the Sacramento block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Sacramento, plus other cities in NV and CA.
