City comparison
No. Reno's crime index is 151 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 156 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Reno is cheaper. Median rent is $1,556 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Los Angeles and Reno. Los Angeles averages 72°F while Reno averages 56°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,933 versus $1,556.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Reno costs less and Los Angeles pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Reno at $1,556 average has pockets that run $1,356 and others at $1,956: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Reno are 388 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,556 a month in Reno, down $377 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $80,760 in Reno, down $1,179 (1%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 151 in Reno, down 7 points (4%).
The move
Reno and Los Angeles are 388 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,556 a month in Reno to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $377 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $80,760 in Reno to $81,939 in Los Angeles, up $1,179 (1%).
The crime index goes from 151 in Reno to 158 in Los Angeles, up 7 points (5%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Reno, NV
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Reno rent is 20% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Reno
Winner$1,556/mo
Typical rent runs $1,556 a month in Reno versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Reno is 20% 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 $4,524, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Reno 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 Reno? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Los Angeles's median income is 1% higher than Reno
Los Angeles
Winner$81,939
Reno
$80,760
Median household income is $81,939 in Los Angeles versus $80,760 in Reno, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Los Angeles (about $1,179 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
4% lower crime
Reno's crime index is 4% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Reno
Winner151 (100 = avg)
Reno's crime index is 151 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 4% lower in Reno. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Reno, 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
33% more comfortable
Los Angeles weather is 33% more comfortable than Reno
Los Angeles
Winner72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Reno
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Los Angeles averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Reno averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Reno averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Los Angeles scores 33% 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 Reno 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 ($81,939), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 72°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Reno is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,556 a month. Choose Reno if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Reno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 4% lower than Los Angeles (151 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
Weather separates these metros: $1,933/month rent in Los Angeles at 72°F versus $1,556 in Reno at 56°F. Income runs $81,939 vs $80,760, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Los Angeles still pays more locally ($81,939 median income vs $80,760), which can offset the lease if your field pays Los Angeles rates.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 47/100 in Reno.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Los Angeles; Reno only makes sense when 56°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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