There’s so much culture and diversity to embrace in fabulous Las Vegas. Despite it being known as the “City of Lost Wages,” there are a lot of opportunities when moving to Las Vegas.

The cost of living has stayed fairly low and it isn’t too crowded, especially when compared to other large urban areas. But it might not stay that way forever. Many California residents are packing up and moving here where they can afford a higher lifestyle at a fraction of the price.

So, don’t waste any time deciding if moving to Las Vegas makes sense for you. The city is expanding and you’ll want to take advantage of the growth sooner rather than later. Here’s what you need to know.

Las Vegas overview

As one of the most famous cities in the world, you’ve probably heard a fair share about Las Vegas. You maybe even visited once or twice. But what you hear about and experience on a vacation is vastly different than living here.

The locals don’t hit the Strip every night and party non-stop. In fact, in many parts of Vegas, you’ll find quiet, family-friendly neighborhoods. Due to the reasonable cost of living, this city is rapidly growing into a desirable destination.

• Population: 651,319
• Population density (people per square mile): 4,298.2
• Median income: $53,575
• Studio average rent: $778
• One-bedroom average rent: $1,236
• Two-bedroom average rent: $1,454
• Cost of living index: 105.7

Popular neighborhoods in Las Vegas

Not all of fabulous Las Vegas is lights and excitement. Each neighborhood has its own quirks and perks. Whether you’re a young professional that’s starting out on your own or you’ve got a family, there’s a neighborhood suited just for you.

• Summerlin: Summerlin has lots of community events like farmers markets and free activities. There’s plenty of shopping and great restaurants and it’s only about a 20-minute drive to the Strip. It’s also one of the safest communities in the city,
• Downtown: Downtown Las Vegas was big before the Strip came along and stole the show. You’ll find lots of great restaurants and eclectic vintage shops here!
• Centennial Hills: This suburb is known to have a little more of a “rural” vibe (or at least, as rural as it can get in a big city like Vegas). Many people who own horses choose to live in this area for the ample space it offers. It’s family-friendly and has lots of outdoor spaces like parks and splash pads for kids to enjoy on those hot summer days.
• Arts District: Hipsters flock to The Arts District to experience the best aspects of the city without the typical over-the-top Las Vegas flair. As its name suggests, it’s full of art, along with fun second-hand and vintage stores. It was even dubbed the “least Vegas neighborhood in Vegas” by The New York Times. So, even though it’s right there near the Strip, it’s a completely different world.
• North Cheyenne: Located near the Las Vegas airport, North Cheyenne is very convenient for anyone who travels frequently. It’s a quieter part of town and is more of a suburb, but it’s really affordable and reasonably safe in comparison to other parts of Vegas.

The pros of moving to Las Vegas

There’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy living in Las Vegas. While daily life as a resident isn’t quite as fun and exciting as a weekend getaway, there are still plenty of positive aspects of living in the city.

You’ll never be bored

Much of Las Vegas is open 24 hours, so you’ll be able to do most of what you want at any point in the day. You can always access areas of the Strip and Downtown with shows, shopping, bars and clubs, many of which offer discounts to the locals. Or, you can enjoy the endless shopping and new restaurants around town. There’s also surprisingly great outdoor recreation at Mount Charleston (you can even ski there in the winter) and Valley of Fire. You can even go boating at Lake Mead.

It’s a traveler’s paradise

One of the perks of living in a city that people from every corner of the globe visit is that you have access to an international airport that has daily flights to almost anywhere in the world. If you prefer to drive, you’re between three and four hours away from Los Angeles and Anaheim — many Las Vegas residents get season passes to Disneyland and take quick weekend trips (some even make it a single day trip!). Plus, the national parks of both California and Utah are easily accessible and you can make it to plenty of them in just a few hours.

Lots of diverse and delicious food

Not only do you have access to hundreds, if not thousands, of amazing restaurants that serve every type of food imaginable, you’ll also find plenty of diverse international markets. You’ll get your pick of Moroccan, Puerto Rican, Malaysian, Greek, Peruvian and whatever other foods you like. Or, if you’re out for a night of excessive eating, you can go for one of the many buffets the city is known for.

The cons of moving to Las Vegas

With the good comes the bad — after all, no city is perfect and you’re always going to come across things you don’t like. Here are a few of the not-so-great things you can expect in Las Vegas.

The heat

In other places with hot summers, it’s typically a tolerable heat and you can still do outdoor activities without feeling too uncomfortably hot. But in Vegas, the scorching hot summers make it almost unbearable anywhere that doesn’t have air conditioning. Sometimes, it’s even too hot for pools to open. And even if they’re open, the water won’t be nearly as refreshing — it feels more like soaking in a hot bath.

But if you need something entertaining to do while you’re at home during the extreme temperatures, you can test how long it takes for a scoop of ice cream to turn to liquid on the cement (times of eight seconds have frequently been reported) or you can try cooking an egg on the sidewalk!

Public transportation isn’t great

If you’re used to having access to a variety of great public transportation options like metros, buses and trams and not relying on a personal vehicle, then living in Vegas will be a major change for you. If you don’t have access to a car that you can drive around the city, you’ll spend hours waiting for and sitting on a bus, because that’s really your only other option.

You can always use ride-sharing services, but that can get pretty expensive when you consider that getting from one end of town to the other could take you upwards of 30 minutes.

It’s really dry

With it being a desert, you would expect Las Vegas to be dry. Because of that, lush greenery really doesn’t grow here. Some homes still have grass in their yard, but most people opt for desert landscaping — dirt, rocks and a few desert plants.

If you’re someone with long hair, get ready to double down on your deep conditioning routine — your hair will need it!

How to get started on your move to Las Vegas

Is the Entertainment Capital of the World the right place for you? No matter the kind of life you desire, there’s something for everyone in Las Vegas.

To get you started on your big move, check out the Moving Center for more information about planning your move, including free quotes and moving tips!

We use a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com’s multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments to determine our rent prices. Data was pulled in January 2021 and goes back for one year. We use a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.

Population and income numbers come from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Cost of living data comes from the Council for Community and Economic Research.

The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

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Source: rent.com