How Much Does It Cost to Live in Las Vegas

Victoria grew up in Vermont, studied architecture in New Mexico, and currently works as a designer in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Las Vegas is about more than the Strip. Discover 13 reasons to live in this great city.

Image by 272447 from Pixabay

There is no denying that a certain stigma surrounds Las Vegas. Pop culture and the media has only furthered the image of Las Vegas as a wild, no-holds-barred, 24-hour party. Beyond the Strip lies an entire city of people working, studying, and recreating as they would in any other city. So why would anyone choose to live in a city with such a strong, sometimes negative, image? Here are 13 reasons why.

Outdoor Recreation Year Round
Proximity to Other Cities (and Attractions)
Cheap Flights/Ease of Flying
Entertainment
History
No State Income Tax
Food
Sports
People Come to You
Natural Beauty
24-Hour Convenience
Weather
The People

Cathedral Rock Trail on Mount Charleston in the fall.

Victoria Anne

Mountain biking in northwest Las Vegas in January.

Victoria Anne

1. Outdoor Recreation Year Round

As someone who grew up in an area that received so much snow that some days you couldn't even open the front door, the option to be outdoors year round has been a welcome one. The Las Vegas Valley is surrounded (literally) with great recreation options.

World-class climbers can be seen scaling the cliffs at the Red Rock Conservation Area while a pack of road bikers zip past. Head down the road to Blue Diamond and you'll see mountain bikers and runners hitting the trails. To cool off, head up to Mount Charleston for a hike or a trip to the ski slope, depending on the season. And if water is more your thing, head east to Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead, or the Colorado River to enjoy boating, kayaking, and paddle boarding.

2. Proximity to Other Cities (and Attractions)

No matter how much you like where you live, it's always nice to get away once in a while. Fortunately, Las Vegas is located within a few hours of many great destinations, including:

Los Angeles (4 hours)
Phoenix (4 hours)
Zion National Park (2 hours)
Joshua Tree National Park (3.5 hours)
Death Valley National Park (2.5 hours)
Sedona (4 hours)

3. Cheap Flights/Ease of Flying

If you need to get further out of town, round trip plane tickets leaving from Las Vegas tend to be much cheaper than other nearby cities. Though I'm sure some might disagree, I have never had a bad experience flying in or out of McCarran Airport, and I have found it one of the easier airports to navigate.

4. Entertainment

Las Vegas is a dream for anyone who loves concerts or shows. Every year, major musicians and tours come through the city, meaning you probably won't have the additional cost of traveling to see your favorite performer.

With the completion of the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas is now able to host even bigger concerts, and the musicals and plays at the Smith Center are not to be missed.

"Las Vegas looks the way you'd imagine heaven must look at night."

— Chuck Palanhiuk, Invisible Monsters

5. History

History is probably not something that is often associated with Las Vegas, but the city is full of it. Of course the entertainment industry here has deep roots, but there is also the nearby Hoover Dam and Boulder City (aka the town that built the Hoover Dam).

Museums

Las Vegas is home to the following museums:

Mob Museum (National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement)
Neon Museum
Pinball Hall of Fame
DISCOVERY Children's Museum
The National Atomic Testing Museum
Nevada State Museum & Historical Society

Exhibits

Also be sure to check out the exhibits on the Strip:

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Bodies the Exhibition
Madamme Tussauds Wax Museum

6. No State Income Tax

While there are certainly some negatives to living in a state with no income tax (such as higher sales tax and car registration fees), most people enjoy seeing a little extra money on each paycheck.

7. Food

Las Vegas is home to some of the best restaurants and dining experiences in the world. From celebrity restaurants and casino buffets to piano bars and local taco shops, you are never far from a good meal. The wide variety also means there is something for every taste and budget.

8. Sports

With the success of the inaugural season of the Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey team and the relocation of the Raiders, the city is finally on people's radar as a sports town. In reality, Las Vegas has a lot to offer to a sports fan, including:

Hockey (Golden Knights)
Soccer (Lights Football Club)
Baseball (51s)
Auto Racing (NASCAR)
Aviation (Red Bull Air Race)
Boxing
MMA
WNBA (Aces)
Football (Raiders coming soon)

Of course, Vegas is also known for its sports books, so never worry about finding a place to bet on your team.

9. People Come to You

Finding time to visit friends and family is hard. Fortunately (or maybe not, if your family is like mine!), when you live in Las Vegas someone is constantly coming through town. Personally, this made my first few months here easier as every few weeks I had a visitor to keep me from getting too lonely. Once you know the city and the best spots, it can be very fun to show your friends the lesser-seen side of Vegas (like some of the things on this list!).

Clark County Wetlands Park.

Victoria Cousino

10. Natural Beauty

Many people, dazzled by the neons and city lights, fail to experience the natural beauty that the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding areas have to offer. Some of my favorite places in and around Las Vegas to enjoy nature are:

Clark County Wetlands Park
Spring Mountain State Park
Springs Preserve
Mount Charleston
Red Rock National Conservation Area
Calico Basin
Valley of Fire
Lake Mead/Colorado River
Gold Butte National Monument

11. 24-Hour Convenience

If you grew up in a rural area like me, being able to get gas and groceries past 8am will be a life changer. One thing I love about Las Vegas is the availability to get almost anything, at almost any time.

12. Weather

Yes, Las Vegas is hot! The summer days are typically over 100, with the nights often remaining quite high in the 80s. That might sound awful, but you truly do adapt to the heat, and it makes the pools that much more refreshing.

Outside of the summer months, the weather in Las Vegas is fabulous and great for outdoor enthusiasts as mentioned above. On average, Las Vegas has 294 sunny days (versus the national average of 205), 5 inches of rain (national average is 39), and 0 inches of snow in the city proper (national average is 26).

Keeping these statistics in mind, Las Vegas is better suited for people who are okay with little variation in the weather patterns. Having grown up in a state with four distinct seasons, I will admit that sometimes I actually get tired of the sunny days and wish for a few constant days of rain. As I mentioned above, I try to appreciate the weather here and that it allows me so much time outdoors.

Las Vegas Weather Averages

Source: NOAA
Month	High/Low (F)	Rain
January	60/39	2 days
February	64/42	2 days
March	73/49	2 days
April	80/54	1 day
May	90/64	0 days
June	101/73	0 days
July	105/79	1 day
August	103/77	1 day
September	96/70	0 days
October	82/58	1 day
November	69/46	1 day
December	58/38	1 day

13. The People

When I first visited Las Vegas to interview for jobs and arrange for my move, I was honestly struck by how friendly everyone I encountered was. The locals are kind and helpful and eager to show you their city.

I love that in Las Vegas you can feel free to be yourself without the fear of being judged. This city has already seen every wild thing imaginable and, in my experience, they are very open and accepting of everyone.

Las Vegas: A Place to Call Home

I honestly never thought I would be living in Las Vegas. I admit that I also had a negative view of the city, but, in the three years I have lived here, I have grown to love it for the reasons in this article and would encourage others to reconsider it as well.

What is your favorite part of living (or visiting) Las Vegas?

Would you ever consider living here?

"If you know how to live in Vegas you can have the best time."

— Tony Curtis

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on July 01, 2018:

You have given many good reasons to enjoy living in Las Vegas. While I have only passed through it twice and enjoyed it for a night or two I certainly have enjoyed some of the nearby national parks. I would enjoy seeing more of the natural beauty surrounding that city. Your photos are beautiful.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Las Vegas

Source: https://toughnickel.com/real-estate/Reasons-to-Move-to-Las-Vegas

Langdon Thissinat1964