City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 144 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. Nashville 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 crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Nashville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Nashville and Las Vegas are 1,576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $23 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $3,494 (5%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 138 in Las Vegas, down 144 points (51%).
The move
Las Vegas and Nashville are 1,576 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $23 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $77,371 in Nashville, up $3,494 (5%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 282 in Nashville, up 144 points (104%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 1% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Las Vegas is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $23, or $276 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 Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Nashville's median income is 5% higher than Las Vegas
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Nashville (about $3,494 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
51% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 51% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Nashville and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
Nashville
66°F avg · 75°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 66°F (75°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Nashville sits near 66°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
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville 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 1% 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 51% lower than Nashville (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
Nashville carries the heavier crime signal on this page (28/100 safety vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). That 22-point spread matters more than the $23 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $73,877 in Las Vegas — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TN and NV.
