City comparison
Yes. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Las Vegas and St Paul. Las Vegas averages 71°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,563 versus $1,281.
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 Paul 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 Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Las Vegas and St Paul are 1,300 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $282 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $73,394 in St Paul, down $483 (1%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 166 in St Paul, up 28 points (20%).
The move
St Paul and Las Vegas are 1,300 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $282 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $483 (1%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 138 in Las Vegas, down 28 points (17%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
St Paul rent is 18% cheaper than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so St Paul is 18% 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 $3,384, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Paul 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
1% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 1% higher than St Paul
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Las Vegas (about $483 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
17% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 17% lower than St Paul
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 17% 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 Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Las Vegas
Winner71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas scores 72% 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 Paul 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 1% 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 17% lower than St Paul (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 Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,563/month rent in Las Vegas at 71°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $73,877 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Safety scores read 50/100 in Las Vegas and 45/100 in St Paul.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Las Vegas; St Paul only makes sense when 50°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
Ready to move to Las Vegas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and St Paul, plus other cities in NV and MN.
