City comparison
No. Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 183 in San Francisco, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 156, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Las Vegas is cheaper. Median rent is $1,563 a month versus $2,476 in San Francisco.
The income gap between San Francisco and Las Vegas is significant: $140,970 median household versus $73,877. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,476 in San Francisco and $1,563 in Las Vegas.
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. San Francisco 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Las Vegas at $1,563 average has pockets that run $1,363 and others at $1,963: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
San Francisco and Las Vegas are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,476 a month in San Francisco to $1,563 a month in Las Vegas, down $913 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $140,970 in San Francisco to $73,877 in Las Vegas, down $67,093 (48%).
The crime index goes from 183 in San Francisco to 138 in Las Vegas, down 45 points (25%).
The move
Las Vegas and San Francisco are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,563 a month in Las Vegas to $2,476 a month in San Francisco, up $913 a month (58%).
Median household income goes from $73,877 in Las Vegas to $140,970 in San Francisco, up $67,093 (91%).
The crime index goes from 138 in Las Vegas to 183 in San Francisco, up 45 points (33%).
San Francisco, CA
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 Francisco and Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
37% cheaper
Las Vegas rent is 37% cheaper than San Francisco
San Francisco
$2,476/mo
Las Vegas
Winner$1,563/mo
Typical rent runs $1,563 a month in Las Vegas versus $2,476 in San Francisco, so Las Vegas is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $913/month back in your pocket ($10,956/year). Over five years that's $54,780 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Francisco, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Las Vegas is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Las Vegas? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
91% higher
San Francisco's median income is 91% higher than Las Vegas
San Francisco
Winner$140,970
Las Vegas
$73,877
Median household income is $140,970 in San Francisco versus $73,877 in Las Vegas, so typical pay runs 91% higher in San Francisco (about $67,093 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, San Francisco is the stronger labor market on paper. Las Vegas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
Las Vegas's crime index is 25% lower than San Francisco
San Francisco
183 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas
Winner138 (100 = avg)
Las Vegas's crime index is 138 versus 183 in San Francisco (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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 Francisco can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Las Vegas weather is 6% more comfortable than San Francisco
San Francisco
63°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 94/100
Las Vegas
Winner74°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 100/100
San Francisco averages about 63°F (69°F highs); Las Vegas averages about 74°F (80°F highs). San Francisco averages around 63°F. Las Vegas sits near 74°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Las Vegas scores 6% 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 San Francisco 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
San Francisco is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 91% higher here ($140,970). Start with San Francisco 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 37% 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 San Francisco on this page's weather index by 6%. San Francisco 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 25% lower than San Francisco (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
San Francisco posts $140,970 median household income against $73,877 in Las Vegas. That 48% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,563 in Las Vegas and $2,476 in San Francisco.
San Francisco still pays more locally ($140,970 median income vs $73,877), which can offset the lease if your field pays San Francisco rates.
Safety scores read 42/100 in San Francisco and 50/100 in Las Vegas.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in San Francisco; Las Vegas only makes sense when $1,563/month housing savings outweigh $140,970 median pay in your field.
Common questions
Ready to move to Las Vegas?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Las Vegas when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Francisco and Las Vegas, plus other cities in CA and NV.
