Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 13 of 22 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
644,835
San Jose
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $784k less ($365,300 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1170/mo less ($1,356 vs $2,526)
29% less violent crime than San Jose
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $69,654/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,654 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Violent Crime
29% lower
429.8 vs 606.8 per 100k
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$784k less
$365,300 vs $1,149,600
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
21.6°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$69,654
$136,010 vs $66,356/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 13 of 22 categories. Las Vegas wins 13 and San Jose wins 9. 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($66,356 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and San Jose, CA are about 370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.