Is Las Vegas cheaper than Memphis?

No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas — 24% lower. Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Las Vegas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Las Vegas or Memphis?

Las Vegas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Las Vegas or Memphis?

School composites are close: A- in Las Vegas and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Las Vegas, NV vs Memphis, TN

Las Vegas, NV versus Memphis, TN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,563 a month in Las Vegas and $1,181 in Memphis, and median household income lands at $73,877 versus $51,736. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Las Vegas takes job market and safety, while Memphis takes affordability and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Memphis leads by 97% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Las Vegas can feel further apart than Las Vegas and Memphis do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Las Vegas and Memphis reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Las Vegas report Full Memphis report

Las Vegas, NV

Rent: $1,563/mo
Median income: $73,877
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 95°F

Memphis, TN

Rent: $1,181/mo
Median income: $51,736
Crime index: 140
Schools: A-
Weather: 80°F

Rent

24% cheaper

Memphis rent is 24% cheaper than Las Vegas

Las Vegas

$1,563/mo

Memphis

Winner

$1,181/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,563 in Las Vegas, so Memphis is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $382/month back in your pocket — $4,584/year. Over five years that's $22,920 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Las Vegas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Memphis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

43% higher

Las Vegas's median income is 43% higher than Memphis

Las Vegas

Winner

$73,877

Memphis

$51,736

What this means for your life

Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 43% higher in Las Vegas — about $22,141 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Las Vegas is the stronger labor market on paper. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

77% lower crime

Las Vegas's crime index is 77% lower than Memphis

Las Vegas

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Memphis

140 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Las Vegas's crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 77% lower in Las Vegas. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Las Vegas is the easier city. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Las Vegas and Memphis are about even on school scores.

Las Vegas

A- · 84/100

Memphis

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Las Vegas, A- in Memphis). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

97% more comfortable

Memphis weather is 97% more comfortable than Las Vegas

Las Vegas

95°F typical

Memphis

Winner

80°F typical

What this means for your life

Memphis scores 97% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 95°F in Las Vegas and 80°F in Memphis. Las Vegas reads as hot, long summers; Memphis reads as warm weather most of the year. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Memphis is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Las Vegas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Las Vegas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Las Vegas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 43% higher here ($73,877). Start with Las Vegas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Las Vegas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 77% lower than Memphis (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Las Vegas report →

Fit check

Who should choose Memphis

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (80°F) beat Las Vegas on this page's weather index by 97%. Las Vegas may pay more or cost less, but Memphis is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Memphis report →

Bottom line

Las Vegas vs Memphis, called

If weather is your priority, Memphis is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Las Vegas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Memphis offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Las Vegas vs Memphis FAQ

Is Las Vegas cheaper than Memphis?: No. Memphis is cheaper: typical rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,563 in Las Vegas — 24% lower. Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas compared with $51,736 in Memphis, so Las Vegas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Las Vegas or Memphis?: Las Vegas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 140 in Memphis — 77% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Las Vegas or Memphis?: School composites are close: A- in Las Vegas and A- in Memphis. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Memphis?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps