City comparison
Las Vegas is safer than Los Angeles. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles and Las Vegas 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 $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,563 in Las Vegas, and median household income lands at $81,939 versus $73,877. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Los Angeles wins on the job market and Las Vegas wins on cost of living 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Las Vegas at $1,563 average has pockets that run $1,363 and others at $1,963: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Las Vegas are 229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $370 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $8,062 (10%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 138 in Las Vegas, down 20 points (13%).
The move
Las Vegas and Los Angeles are 229 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $370 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $8,062 (11%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 158 in Los Angeles, up 20 points (14%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Las Vegas, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 19% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Las Vegas is 19% 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 $4,440, 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 Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 11% higher than Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Los Angeles (about $8,062 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, Los Angeles 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
13% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 13% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Las Vegas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Las Vegas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas sits near 74°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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Los Angeles is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 11% higher here ($81,939). Start with Los Angeles if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 19% 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 13% lower than Los Angeles (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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,563/month in Las Vegas versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $73,877 in Las Vegas and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Las Vegas rent at $1,563/month is still below Los Angeles's $1,933, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $73,877 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Los Angeles deserves a serious look only when your $81,939 income offer in Los Angeles outweighs saving $370/month in Las Vegas.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Las Vegas, plus other cities in CA and NV.
