City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 169 in New York, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 195, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $1,821 in New York.
New York 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 $1,821 in New York and $1,563 in Las Vegas, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $73,877. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. New York 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
New York and Las Vegas are 2,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,821 a month in New York to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $258 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $80,483 in New York to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $6,606 (8%).
The crime index goes from 169 in New York to 138 in Las Vegas, down 31 points (18%).
The move
Las Vegas and New York are 2,227 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,821 a month in New York, up $258 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $80,483 in New York, up $6,606 (9%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 169 in New York, up 31 points (22%).
New York, NY
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 New York and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 14% cheaper than New York
New York
$1,821/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $1,821 in New York, so Las Vegas is 14% 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 $3,096, 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 New York.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
New York's median income is 9% higher than Las Vegas
New York
Winner$80,483
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 9% higher in New York (about $6,606 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
18% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 18% lower than New York
New York
169 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 169 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% 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. New York can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
25% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 25% more comfortable than New York
New York
58°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 80/100
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
New York averages about 58°F (65°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). New York averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas scores 25% 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 New York 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 and professional growth
New York is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($80,483). Start with New York if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Las Vegas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% 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.
Pick Las Vegas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat New York on this page's weather index by 25%. New York may pay more or cost less, but Las Vegas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
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 18% lower than New York (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
On weather alone, Las Vegas is the warmer market (74°F) and New York the cooler (58°F). Typical leases run $1,563 and $1,821; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
New York still pays more locally ($80,483 median income vs $73,877), which can offset the lease if your field pays New York rates.
Typical rent stays $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,821 in New York.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Las Vegas; New York only makes sense when 58°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New York and Las Vegas, plus other cities in NY and NV.
