Moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be an exciting relocation choice, and many people are ditching LA for Sin City due to the lower tax rates and more affordable housing in Nevada.

Las Vegas is known for its gambling and nightlife, but there’s so much more to the city than just casinos, nightclubs, and the infamous strip. It is known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World” and boasts so many things to do, so you’ll never be bored.

Take into account the job opportunities and the wide range of outdoor activities that are on offer, and you won’t be second-guessing yourself on whether or not moving is a good choice.

So if you plan on trading in the City of Angels for Sin City, this guide will help answer any queries you might have about the move.

The Moving Process From Los Angeles to Las Vegas

How Far is Las Vegas from Los Angeles?

The distance between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is 270 miles. The driving time of this journey is approximately 4 hours, depending on traffic. This drive is very manageable, so a DIY move is definitely an option.

The flight time is roughly 1 hour, so if you don’t feel like driving for 4 hours, you should book a flight instead.

What is the Average Cost to Move From Los Angeles to Las Vegas?

The average cost to move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is between $2,100-$4,000. That means on average it costs roughly $3,050.

Determining the exact cost of a move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be tricky. Several factors must be taken into account, such as how many items you plan to move, whether you plan to hire a professional moving company, or do the entire move yourself.

Should I Move From Los Angeles to Las Vegas?

If you’re tired of the expensive rent and cost of living in LA and want a city that excites you with the endless opportunities and things to do, then you should move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

How Los Angeles Compares to Las Vegas

Living Costs Compared

Moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas doesn’t have to bring about a change in lifestyle, you can have the same standard of living but for nearly half the price. In other great news, there’s no income tax in Nevada, so it makes buying a house a little bit easier on your wallet.

The median rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles is $2,820. In Las Vegas, you can expect to pay just $1,176 for a 2-bedroom apartment.

If you’re planning to buy property in Las Vegas, you’ll be happy to hear that buying a home is 50% cheaper than buying a home in Los Angeles. The median sale price of a 3-bedroom home in LA is $827,579. While in Las Vegas, the median sale price of a 3 bedroom apartment is $441,771.

You can also expect groceries, transportation, entertainment, and healthcare costs to be a lot cheaper in Las Vegas compared to LA.

Public Transportation

The RTC Buses are the main mode of transport in Las Vegas and are run by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. They run 24/7 along the Las Vegas Boulevard, and from 5.30 am–1.30 am elsewhere.

Similar to LA, residents in Las Vegas tend to rely on their own vehicles to get around if they live in the suburbs. But the good news is traffic isn’t such an issue in Vegas, as it is in LA.

In LA, a 30-day pass costs $100 and a one-way ticket is only $1.75. In Las Vegas, A 30-day system pass costs $65 and a one-way ticket is $2.

Weather

The weather in Las Vegas has similarities to the weather in LA, so there won’t be too much readjustment on that front.

LA averages 284 sunny days a year, which is a lot, but Las Vegas averages even more at 294 sunny days a year! The summer months in Las Vegas do reach higher temperatures than LA, so if you like the baking heat, you’ll be happy to soak up the sun in Vegas.

The winters in LA and Las Vegas are similar too, since both places get no snowfall, you won’t need to worry about buying yourself snow boots. The coldest average monthly temperature in LA is around 45℉, and the average lows in Vegas in the winter months are around 37℉.

Moving From Los Angeles to Las Vegas DMV

If you are planning a move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, you’ll need to get a new driver’s license and new license plates.

New residents in Nevada have 30 days to apply to get their driver’s license and to obtain registration if planning to drive in the state.

To do so, you must visit your nearest driver’s license office in person. More information about what you will need to complete the process can be found here.

Buying a home in Las Vegas

As we mentioned earlier, buying a home in Las Vegas is 50% cheaper than buying a home in Los Angeles, pair that with the fact there’s no income tax in Nevada, you should definitely consider buying over renting.

The following neighborhoods are great places to begin house hunting in Las Vegas.


Downtown Las Vegas

Are you looking to purchase an affordable apartment that has a modern feel to it? Well, Downtown Las Vegas is the place to start looking! Although its name may make you think that you’ll be living amongst the Strip, Downtown Las Vegas is situated north of The Strip.

The area boasts newly constructed modern high-rise buildings, and if you want to live somewhere that feels like a constant vacation, this might be a great option for you as many buildings here have rooftop pools overlooking the city.

Green Valley

Are you looking for a safe neighborhood that offers great schools for your kids? Green Valley is a great neighborhood for you! The residents of this neighborhood feel safe here, and there are plenty of green spaces and recreational centers for you and your family to enjoy!

The area is a popular spot for families due to the highly accredited schools that exist here. If you love living in a typical neighborhood that has cul-de-sacs, dog parks, community pools, then Green Valley is a great choice. 

Blue Diamond

If you love open space and crave a small-town feel to a place, Blue Diamond might be a great choice for you. The area offers plenty of hiking, biking, rock climbing, and adventure opportunities nearby.

It’s around 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas, but it’s home to only around 500 people, which epitomizes that small-town living.

Blue Diamond was originally a mining town, so the housing stock is made up of some mining cabins, another plus is that there’s plenty of opportunities to buy land in the area to build your own home there too.

Selling Your Property in Los Angeles

If you are planning to sell your property in LA, finding the right realtor is the first step in the process. After you have found the right realtor for you, then you’ll need to decide on the right month to sell your home.

Housing prices can fluctuate depending on what time of the year you decide to list and sell your home. In LA, the best month to list your home is the month of March. Generally, it will take around 3 months to close the sale on your house, so you can expect a sale in June.

Another crucial step of the selling process is figuring out what your house is worth and comparing your home to the area’s market value. Your real estate agent can provide you with a market analysis and support you with the process.

Finding a Job in Las Vegas Before You Move There

As mentioned previously, Las Vegas is a great city to move to for job opportunities in the entertainment industry. If you are wondering where to begin the job search, the following places are a great place to start

City of Las Vegas: Human Resources

If you are interested in having a public service job within the City of Las Vegas and are looking to help the city thrive, you can check out the current job openings here.

Indeed

Indeed is great for finding job listings across a wide range of industries. You can use the tools to filter your search and narrow down the listings to the area or suburb in Las Vegas that you plan to move to.

You can check out the current job listings here.

Word of Mouth

Do you know anyone that’s living in Las Vegas? Try reaching out to them and ask them if they know of places that are looking to hire.

Moving From Los Angeles to Las Vegas Checklist

The following checklist can help you to figure out what needs to be done before trading in the City of Angels for the Sin City.

At Least 4 to 6 Weeks Before the Move

– Organize a professional moving company.

– Let your health care physician, dentist, and other service providers know that you are moving.

– Order moving supplies or ask your moving company to provide them as an additional service

– It is a great idea to sell or donate your unwanted items. You can sell on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or you can donate them to the Salvation Army and they will pick items up at no charge.

– Begin packing; clearly mark boxes with a marker indicating which room they will be going into at delivery.

– You will need to make your change of address known to several different places, such as wherever you do your banking, the DMV, your workplace, any other financial institutions (such as credit card providers), the post office, your utility provider, and, saving the most important for last, your friends and family.

– Sort plane tickets if you’re planning to fly.

2 Weeks Prior to the Move

– It is imperative to clean and/or make needed repairs on your old home before moving out, since leaving your place an absolute mess may leave your security deposit in jeopardy.

– Because of the abundance of fragile items in your kitchen, you’ll want to pack these items away long in advance, with protective bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken in transit.

– You will also want to begin packing your things from bedrooms and bathrooms, except for your essential items that you will be using until you move.

– If necessary, you will want to arrange a babysitter for your kids and/or pets for parts of the move that you need to be able to focus and get things done.

A Couple of Days Before Your Move

– Clean up your home completely, double checking any cracks and crevices that may have your stuff hidden away.

– Unless your movers will do it for you, dissassemble your furniture to make your move a smoother process, and ensure to keep any screws, brackets, or other small items that are needed for reassembly. Pro tip: tape these smaller items in a bag to the bottom of the furniture.

– Print out the floor plan of your new home and have enough for the movers as well.

– You may want to hit the ATM before moving day, as you’ll need to have enough cash to tip your movers. Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip $20-$30 per mover.

– Make sure that you confirm with your movers the details of your move. The last thing that you want is to have moving day come around, and you and your movers aren’t on the same page.

– Get in touch with the landlord or current homeowner of your new place, and ensure that you’ll be able to get the keys to your new place when you arrive.

– Document the condition of your old place through pictures and videos, to ensure that you have proof of its state. This will come in handy if your landlord tries to keep your deposit, based on incorrect facts.

Moving Day

– Hand over your old home’s keys to the necessary people, such as landlord or building management.

– Do a quick run-through of your home to ensure that nothing gets left behind, whether it’s just a smaller item, or an entire box of stuff.

– Ensure that everything you packed up is in your new home before unpacking everything.

– If the moving company you are working with is going to assemble your furniture, make sure that they reassemble it in the correct room to avoid unnecessary work.

– Try to have fun!

– Be sure to thank everyone helping you move, and leave them a tip!

You did it! Congrats and enjoy your new home!

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