City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 212 in San Antonio, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 164, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
San Antonio is cheaper. Median rent is $1,324 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas.
Safety is where San Antonio and Las Vegas split most clearly. Las Vegas scores 74 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,324 in San Antonio and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
This is a genuine split. San Antonio wins on cost of living and Las Vegas wins on the job market 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 San Antonio has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
San Antonio and Las Vegas are 1,071 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,324 a month in San Antonio to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, up $239 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $65,056 in San Antonio to $73,877 in Las Vegas, up $8,821 (14%).
The crime index goes from 212 in San Antonio to 138 in Las Vegas, down 74 points (35%).
The move
Las Vegas and San Antonio are 1,071 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $1,324 a month in San Antonio, down $239 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $65,056 in San Antonio, down $8,821 (12%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 212 in San Antonio, up 74 points (54%).
San Antonio, TX
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 San Antonio and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
San Antonio rent is 15% cheaper than Las Vegas
San Antonio
Winner$1,324/mo
Las Vegas
$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,324 a month in San Antonio versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so San Antonio is 15% 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 $2,868, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. San Antonio 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
14% higher
Las Vegas's median income is 14% higher than San Antonio
San Antonio
$65,056
Las Vegas
Winner$73,877
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $65,056 in San Antonio, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Las Vegas (about $8,821 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. San Antonio can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
35% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 35% lower than San Antonio
San Antonio
212 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 212 in San Antonio (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. San Antonio can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
San Antonio and Las Vegas are about even on typical weather.
San Antonio
75°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Las Vegas
74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Antonio averages about 75°F (85°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). San Antonio sits near 75°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to San Antonio
San Antonio is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,324 a month. Choose San Antonio 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 and professional growth
Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 35% lower than San Antonio (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Las Vegas leads on safety (50/100 vs 37/100 in San Antonio). Typical rent is $1,563 in Las Vegas and $1,324 in San Antonio; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Las Vegas still pays more locally ($73,877 median income vs $65,056), which can offset the lease if your field pays Las Vegas rates.
Median income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $65,056 in San Antonio.
Las Vegas is ahead on safety (50/100 vs 37/100); San Antonio is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,324/month rent plus $65,056 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Antonio and Las Vegas, plus other cities in TX and NV.
