Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835
Phoenix
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
46% less violent crime than Phoenix
Cons
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Median income trails Phoenix by $5,736/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $5,736 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $25k less ($340,200 vs $365,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
46% lower
429.8 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$5,736
$72,092 vs $66,356/yr
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$25k less
$340,200 vs $365,300
Phoenix
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 8.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 56.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 16 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 7 and Phoenix wins 16. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $340,200 median home), income ($66,356 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ are about 257 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.