Las Vegas, NV vs Los Angeles, CA
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Las VegasLas Vegas, NV | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 44°F, Las Vegas, NV has a summer dew point that sits at the 4th percentile, while Los Angeles, CA records 61°F in the 34th percentile, a 17°F difference in 2024 climate data. The cost of living index for 2023 shows Las Vegas at 131 against Los Angeles’ 222, placing them in the 68th and 93rd percentiles respectively, with Los Angeles 69% higher. State and local tax burden also separates them: Las Vegas’ 9.6% contrasts with Los Angeles’ 13.5%, a 3.9-point gap that puts Los Angeles in the 92nd percentile versus Las Vegas’ 37th.
Job growth over the past year reached +2.4% in Las Vegas compared to +1.2% in Los Angeles, a 1.2-point difference, with Las Vegas in the 84th percentile and Los Angeles in the 55th. Work-from-home rates for 2023 show 10.5% of Las Vegas workers remote versus 17.3% in Los Angeles, a 6.8-point spread, placing Los Angeles in the 77th percentile. Bachelor’s degree attainment among adults is 27.3% in Las Vegas and 37.8% in Los Angeles, a 10.5-point gap, with the latter in the 63rd percentile. Distance to coastline differs sharply: Las Vegas sits 237 mi inland while Los Angeles is 12 mi from the coast, a 226 mi difference.
Violent crime per 100,000 people in 2025 is 400 in Las Vegas and 668 in Los Angeles, with Los Angeles 67% higher and in the 92nd percentile. Property crime runs 2,371 per 100,000 in Las Vegas versus 2,248 in Los Angeles, a 5% difference with Las Vegas in the 85th percentile. Median rent for 2023 is $1,456 in Las Vegas and $1,879 in Los Angeles, a 29% gap, while median home values are $395,300 and $879,500 respectively, with Los Angeles 2.2× higher.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 13168th pctl | 22293rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Las Vegas, NV 131; Los Angeles, CA 222; Los Angeles is 69% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $395,30071st pctl | $879,50094th pctl | Median home value: Las Vegas, NV $395,300; Los Angeles, CA $879,500; Los Angeles is 2.2 times higher. |
| Median rent | $1,45668th pctl | $1,87988th pctl | Median rent: Las Vegas, NV $1,456; Los Angeles, CA $1,879; Los Angeles is 29% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $70,72347th pctl | $80,36659th pctl | Median household income: Las Vegas, NV $70,723; Los Angeles, CA $80,366; Los Angeles is 14% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $76,80072nd pctl | $127,16192nd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Las Vegas, NV $76,800; Los Angeles, CA $127,161; Los Angeles is 66% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $112,89672nd pctl | $186,92692nd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Las Vegas, NV $112,896; Los Angeles, CA $186,926; Los Angeles is 66% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Las Vegas, NV C-; Los Angeles, CA F; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Los Angeles needs about
$127,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 131 vs 222). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.6%96th pctl | 5.8%97th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.4%84th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Las Vegas, NV +2.4%; Los Angeles, CA +1.2%; Las Vegas is 1.2 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $38,42152nd pctl | $46,27071st pctl | Per-capita income: Las Vegas, NV $38,421; Los Angeles, CA $46,270; Los Angeles is 20% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.2%63rd pctl | 16.5%72nd pctl | Poverty rate: Las Vegas, NV 14.2%; Los Angeles, CA 16.5%; Los Angeles is 2.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.8 min66th pctl | 31.1 min89th pctl | Average commute: Las Vegas, NV 25.8 min; Los Angeles, CA 31.1 min; Los Angeles is 5 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 10.5%49th pctl | 17.3%77th pctl | Work from home: Las Vegas, NV 10.5%; Los Angeles, CA 17.3%; Los Angeles is 6.8 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Stable | Job market: Las Vegas, NV B-; Los Angeles, CA C-; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 40078th pctl | 66892nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Las Vegas, NV 400; Los Angeles, CA 668; Los Angeles is 67% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,37185th pctl | 2,24882nd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Las Vegas, NV 2,371; Los Angeles, CA 2,248; Las Vegas is 5% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Las Vegas, NV C-; Los Angeles, CA F; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Comfortable | Climate comfort: Las Vegas, NV A+; Los Angeles, CA B+; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Las Vegas, NV B; Los Angeles, CA A; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Poor | Tap water: Las Vegas, NV F; Los Angeles, CA D; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Power grid: Las Vegas, NV A+; Los Angeles, CA A-; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Prime | Homesteading potential: Las Vegas, NV B-; Los Angeles, CA A-; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Las Vegas, NV B-; Los Angeles, CA D-; Las Vegas is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | DState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Las Vegas, NV 0 mi; Los Angeles, CA 0 mi; Los Angeles is 2.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Weak | Target proximity: Las Vegas, NV F; Los Angeles, CA D+; Los Angeles is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 239 mi29th pctl | 123 mi13th pctl | Distance to international border: Las Vegas, NV 239 mi; Los Angeles, CA 123 mi; Las Vegas is 95% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 237 mi48th pctl | 12 mi11th pctl | Distance to coastline: Las Vegas, NV 237 mi; Los Angeles, CA 12 mi; Las Vegas is 226 mi higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 650,87399th pctl | 3,857,897100th pctl | Population: Las Vegas, NV 650,873; Los Angeles, CA 3,857,897; Los Angeles is 5.9 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 4,58890th pctl | 8,19997th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Las Vegas, NV 4,588; Los Angeles, CA 8,199; Los Angeles is 79% higher. |
| Median age | 38.554th pctl | 36.940th pctl | Median age: Las Vegas, NV 38.5; Los Angeles, CA 36.9; Las Vegas is 1.6 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.3%37th pctl | 37.8%63rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Las Vegas, NV 27.3%; Los Angeles, CA 37.8%; Los Angeles is 10.5 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.671st pctl | 2.672nd pctl | About the same |
More about Las Vegas's residents · Los Angeles's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Las VegasLas Vegas, NV | Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+2 | D+17 |
| 2024 presidential | D +2.0 pts | D +31.0 pts |
Full politics data: Las Vegas · Los Angeles
Moving between Las Vegas and Los Angeles
- Median rent: $1,456 in Las Vegas, $1,879 in Los Angeles
- Median home value: $395,300 in Las Vegas, $879,500 in Los Angeles
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 131 in Las Vegas, 222 in Los Angeles
- Median household income: $70,723 in Las Vegas, $80,366 in Los Angeles
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $112,896 in Las Vegas, $186,926 in Los Angeles
- Unemployment: 5.6% in Las Vegas, 5.8% in Los Angeles
- Average commute: 25.8 min in Las Vegas, 31.1 min in Los Angeles
- Violent crime per 100k: 400 in Las Vegas, 668 in Los Angeles
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
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