City comparison
No. Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 138 in Las Vegas, and its violent crime index is 112 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,701 in Tampa.
Safety is where Las Vegas and Tampa split most clearly. Tampa scores 45 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 $1,701 in Tampa.
This is a genuine split. Las Vegas wins on cost of living and Tampa wins on the job market and safety. 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. Tampa has rougher pockets and Las Vegas has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Las Vegas and Tampa are 1,986 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,701 a month in Tampa, up $138 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $75,475 in Tampa, up $1,598 (2%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 93 in Tampa, down 45 points (33%).
The move
Tampa and Las Vegas are 1,986 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,701 a month in Tampa to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $138 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $75,475 in Tampa to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $1,598 (2%).
The crime index goes from 93 in Tampa to 138 in Las Vegas, up 45 points (48%).
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tampa, FL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Las Vegas and Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 8% cheaper than Tampa
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Tampa
$1,701/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,701 in Tampa, so Las Vegas is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $138, or $1,656 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 Tampa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Tampa's median income is 2% higher than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
$73,877
Tampa
Winner$75,475
Median household income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Tampa (about $1,598 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
33% lower crime
Tampa's crime index is 33% lower than Las Vegas
Las Vegas
138 (100 = avg)
Tampa
Winner93 (100 = avg)
Tampa's crime index is 93 versus 138 in Las Vegas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Tampa. 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, Tampa is the easier city. Las Vegas 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 Tampa are about even on typical weather.
Las Vegas
71°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tampa
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas averages about 71°F (76°F highs); Tampa averages about 75°F (83°F highs). Las Vegas sits near 71°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tampa sits near 75°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Tampa is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($75,475). Start with Tampa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Tampa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Las Vegas (93 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.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tampa leads on safety (62/100 vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). Typical rent is $1,701 in Tampa and $1,563 in Las Vegas; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $138 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $75,475 in Tampa versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tampa; Las Vegas only makes sense when you have walked the Las Vegas ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,563 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tampa when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Las Vegas and Tampa, plus other cities in NV and FL.
