Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 15 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
53% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.4%)
Households earn $8,819 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $365,300
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Higher rents — median is $1,356/mo
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($215,500 vs $365,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,356)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Las Vegas by $8,819/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Income
$8,819
$66,356 vs $57,537/yr
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
53% lower
429.8 vs 908.7 per 100k
Las Vegas
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$150k less
$215,500 vs $365,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 15 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 15 and Philadelphia wins 8. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $215,500 median home), income ($66,356 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,178 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.