Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
50% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $93k less ($365,300 vs $458,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $6,001/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,001 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,356)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
50% lower
429.8 vs 864.2 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$93k less
$365,300 vs $458,600
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 91.4°F
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$6,001
$72,357 vs $66,356/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 23 categories. Las Vegas wins 13 and Salt Lake City wins 10. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $458,600 median home), income ($66,356 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, UT are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.