City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Las Vegas and St Louis split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 214 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 $997 in St Louis.
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. St Louis 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Louis at $997 average has pockets that run $797 and others at $1,397: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and St Louis are 1,375 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $997 a month in St Louis, down $566 a month (36%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $56,160 in St Louis, down $17,717 (24%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 352 in St Louis, up 214 points (155%).
The move
St Louis and Las Vegas are 1,375 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $566 a month (57%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $17,717 (32%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 138 in Las Vegas, down 214 points (61%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
36% cheaper
St Louis rent is 36% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so St Louis is 36% cheaper. That's roughly $566/month back in your pocket ($6,792/year). Over five years that's $33,960 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 Las Vegas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Louis 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
32% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 32% higher than St Louis
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 32% higher in Las Vegas (about $17,717 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. St Louis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 61% lower than St Louis
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 25% more comfortable than St Louis
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas scores 25% 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 St Louis 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 32% higher ($73,877), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 61% lower than St Louis (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 St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 36% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Las Vegas: Las Vegas scores 50/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,563 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 28 safety points for housing savings.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $56,160), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Median income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Las Vegas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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