City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 123 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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.
The crime gap is citywide. Las Vegas has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Las Vegas are 2,172 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $166 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $11,924 (19%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 138 in Las Vegas, down 123 points (47%).
The move
Las Vegas and Philadelphia are 2,172 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $166 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $11,924 (16%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 261 in Philadelphia, up 123 points (89%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 11% cheaper than Las Vegas
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Philadelphia is 11% 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 $1,992, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Las Vegas.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
19% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 19% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Las Vegas (about $11,924 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, Las Vegas is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
47% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 47% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 47% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°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 20% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 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 19% higher ($73,877), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 74°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 47% lower than Philadelphia (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
Philadelphia carries the heavier crime signal on this page (31/100 safety vs 50/100 in Las Vegas). That 19-point spread matters more than the $166 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (50/100 in Las Vegas vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Pick Las Vegas when you want the stronger safety signal (50/100). Otherwise, Philadelphia's case rests on a Philadelphia ZIP you trust at $1,397 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Las Vegas, plus other cities in PA and NV.
