Las Vegas vs St. George
Compare Las Vegas, NV and St. George, UT on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,406/mo in Las Vegas and $1,321/mo in St. George, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,643/mo and $1,355/mo. State income tax also separates them — Las Vegas's rate is roughly 0% versus 4.5%. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (260 vs 250 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Las Vegas runs summer highs near 104°F and winter lows near 33°F, while St. George runs 92°F and 17°F. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with St. George; if walkable daily life matters more, Las Vegas screens stronger on the walkability proxy (16 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Las Vegas leads 67 to 61 on the cost and climate screen.
Las Vegas leads 83 to 79 on the work screen.
Las Vegas leads 61 to 55 on the daily life screen.
St. George leads 55 to 49 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Las Vegas is roughly $71,731 in St. George using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas | St. George | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,406/mo | $1,321/mo | St. George |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,643/mo | $1,355/mo | St. George |
| Median home value | $369,000 | $417,000 | Las Vegas |
| State income tax | None | 4.5% | Las Vegas |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 19.8 min | St. George |
| Safety score | 34/100 | 57/100 | St. George |
| School score | 3/10 | 7/10 | St. George |
| Walkability estimate | 16/100 | 4/100 | Las Vegas |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 10/10 | St. George |
| Restaurants per 100k | 206.5 | 198.0 | Las Vegas |
| Mountain distance | 78 mi | 30 mi | St. George |
| Coast distance | 236 mi | 342 mi | Las Vegas |
What stands out
Las Vegas stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 23 miles
Las Vegas tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
St. George stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 14 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 50 miles
St. George tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
Common questions
Is Las Vegas cheaper than St. George?
On public benchmarks St. George is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,406/mo in Las Vegas vs $1,321/mo in St. George; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,643/mo vs $1,355/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 4.5%.
Is Las Vegas or St. George safer?
St. George screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 34/100 for Las Vegas and 57/100 for St. George (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Las Vegas or St. George?
School screens show 3/10 for Las Vegas vs 7/10 for St. George, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Las Vegas and St. George?
Las Vegas: summer highs near 104°F, winter lows near 33°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. St. George: 92°F / 17°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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