Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 15 of 21 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Oakland
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $519k less ($365,300 vs $883,800)
78% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $493/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,849)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $28,033/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,033 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
78% lower
429.8 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$519k less
$365,300 vs $883,800
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
32.2°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$28,033
$94,389 vs $66,356/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 437,825 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 15 of 21 categories. Las Vegas wins 15 and Oakland wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Las Vegas to Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $883,800 median home), income ($66,356 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Oakland, CA are about 398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.