If you’re confused about moving to Las Vegas, the pros and cons of living in Las Vegas discussed in this article should help you decide.
In this article, I’ll also answer some questions being asked by others moving to Las Vegas. I hope it helps you make the right decision.
Let’s ride!
Life in Sin City
You’ve probably heard a lot about Las Vegas and its throbbing life. But that’s not all there is to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is a fast-growing city in the United States with a population of 2,839,000 (a 2.42% increase from that of 2021). It’s the 26th most populous state in the U.S and the most populous in the state of Nevada.
Love paparazzi? Welcome to Sin City! Las Vegas is renowned for being the heart of every celebrity hangout. If you live in Las Vegas, chances are that you’ll run into a couple of your favorite celebrities.
Besides being a celebrity magnet, Las Vegas is also popular for always being lit. Living in Las Vegas would entail learning to live with a lot of lights — bright neon lights.
Las Vegas maintains a strong cowboy culture. You’ll still find a lot of them living on ranches, riding horses, and roping cows. They’re proud to call themselves cowboys.
And yes, rodeo is still a thing in Las Vegas. Little wonder the city symbol is the giant neon Cowboy Vic.
Summary of Pros and Cons of Living in Las Vegas
Living in Las Vegas sure has its highs and lows. Here’s a summary of some advantages and disadvantages of living in Las Vegas.
| Pros of Living in Las Vegas | Cons of Living in Las Vegas |
| Vibrant Nightlife | It’s Difficult to Find Jobs in Las Vegas |
| Plenty of Housing | Education is Not Top-Notch |
| High Racial Tolerance | High Rate of Crime |
| Snow is Rare in Las Vegas | The Residents Take Part in a lot of Vices |
| Low Taxes | Poor Public Transportation |
Advantages of Living in Las Vegas
1. Vibrant Nightlife
If you’re the type that loves to party even on a Monday night, Las Vegas is the place for you.
With the famous quote, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”, Las Vegas nightlife has made a name.
For a long time, Las Vegas has been a major attraction for fun lovers. The experience is unmatched in comparison with other cities. There’s always the next big party!
2. Plenty of Housing
Las Vegas is a very developed city. There are a lot of houses to choose from. However, rates will be higher if you want to live in a decent environment.
In the 90s, housing in Las Vegas was much more affordable, but that’s not the case now. Today, the average rent for living in Las Vegas is $1,191. Luxury apartments could go up to $3,000 for a month.
Though there are many low-income neighborhoods to live in, crime is rampant there.
3. Snow is Rare in Las Vegas
Snow falls at an average of 0.3 inches annually. If you love outdoor activities, Las Vegas is your go-to place.
The sun has most of the seasons in Las Vegas. Rain falls sparingly. Snow falls minimally. So if you have plans for sunny days, Las Vegas is where to enjoy it.
4. High Racial Tolerance
Las Vegas is more integrated than most cities in the United States. Because of this, it is one of the most racially tolerant cities in the state.
In 2021, Nevada, Las Vegas ranked third for its racial diversity, behind California and Hawaii. It was formerly called “Mississippi of the West” because of its racial tolerance.
5. Low Taxes
There’s no state income tax in Las Vegas. Residents of Nevada also enjoy low taxes on property rates.
According to the Office of Revenue Analysis, residents pay just $1.15 per $100 of every value assessed on the property. This is a rate much lower than most other US cities.
Even though sales taxes are quite higher at 7.75%, residents are only made to pay it on 37.4% of purchased goods.
Drawbacks of Living in Las Vegas
1. It’s Difficult to Find Jobs in Las Vegas
While some big cities have diversified their economies, Las Vegas is focused more on tourism. If you don’t fit into this line, you may be overqualified for the jobs.
It gets worse when you’re not a professional. Las Vegas has a great need for financial and medical personnel. If you’re not any of these, getting a job may be tough.
If you ever find one, it may be low-paying or short-term.
Also, since Las Vegas is a fun hub, most job opportunities are in the casinos. If you can’t work in one, you may have to scamper for opportunities.
2. Education is not Top-Notch
If you’re moving to Las Vegas with your kids, watch out for this one. In 2018, the education system in Las Vegas was rated the worst in the United States.
Nevada has over a 40% rate of high school dropouts. The low quality of education in Nevada has been traced to its reliance on the outdated funding formula.
Nevada spends only 3.1% of its revenue on education. Low educational investments amount to low educational performance in a country.
3. High Rate of Crime
It’s only natural that crime is prevalent when there are no job opportunities.
The violent crime rate in Las Vegas is 40.9% (way beyond the 22.7 U.S. average). The property crime rate in Las Vegas is 43.4% (as against 35.4 U.S. average).
If you move to Las Vegas, ensure you avoid these dangerous neighborhoods in Las Vegas.
4. The Residents Take Part in a lot of Vices
As much as I love Las Vegas — the freedom, the vibrant life, and the lights. There are still disturbing activities that will make anyone wonder.
Las Vegas is filled with people who are drunk or gambling 24/7. There are over 143 casinos in Las Vegas.
The level of underemployment has influenced the rate of poverty greatly. There are always some advertisements for girls in the streets. Excessive drinking, sex, and drugs are the order of the day.
Most of the residents seem unhappy, but they still look for happiness in these activities.
5. Bad Public Transportation
It’s hard to survive in Las Vegas without a car. A recent report says Las Vegas has the worst public transit system in comparison with other cities.
A lot of residents also complain about how rude Las Vegas drivers get. They’re always late to pick you up but are quick to stop running early.
Finally …
Las Vegas is generally a good place to live. Notwithstanding the setbacks, you can find your place in the city and enjoy yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Las Vegas
Can I raise a family in Las Vegas?
Well, if you’re particular about raising your kids in a sane environment, Las Vegas may not be ideal. With the rise in substance abuse and other vices, such exposure may affect kids.
What is the cost of living in Las Vegas?
Living in Las Vegas is not as costly as most people think. However, Las Vegas is 4.1% above the national cost of living average.
The average home cost in Las Vegas is $441,048 while the average rent cost is $1,200 per month. Here’s a breakdown of some major expenses in Las Vegas:
Housing Costs – $980 per month for a one-bedroom apartment; $1,250 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Utility Costs – $180 each month for a 1,000 square feet apartment. This covers electricity, water, heating, garbage, and cooling. Internet cost is an average of $77 a month.
Healthcare Costs – Las Vegas healthcare is about 7% cheaper than most cities. Residents are likely to pay $475 on health insurance. Without insurance, it could cost around $1,887.
What are the tax benefits of living in Las Vegas?
Nevada is one of the tax-friendly states in Las Vegas. Some tax-friendly policies in Las Vegas are:
- No income tax
- No social security tax
- No pension tax
- No tax on gross receipts
- No tax on inheritance and estate
- No inventory tax
- No tax on the sale or transfer of shares
- Low property tax
- No franchise tax
- No tax on issued corporate shares
Where are the safest neighborhoods in Las Vegas to live?
With the rise in Las Vegas’ crime rate, some neighborhoods have been found to be safer than others. They are:
- Sun City Summerlin
- Sheep Mountain
- Summerlin North
- Tule Springs
- Kyle Canyon
- Lone Mountain
- Huntridge
- Meadows Village
- Downtown
- The Lakes
Should I consider retiring to Las Vegas?
Why not? Nevada is one of the best states for retirees. In fact, it’s referred to as a tax haven for people retiring from high tax paying states like New York, California, and Illinois.
Because of the tax benefits made available to them in Las Vegas, retirees find Nevada the safest place to retire.
Retirees in Nevada don’t have to pay state income tax. They also don’t need to pay taxes on their retirement income.
This means no pension tax and no tax on social security. Military retirement is also not taxed in Nevada.
