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Everything You Need To Know Before Moving To Las Vegas

Are you thinking about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada? If so, then you've come to the right place because we've put together a helpful guide to moving to the city. We'll tell you everything you need to know before you move to Vegas.

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Fast Facts About Las Vegas

Before discussing moving to Vegas, let's go over a few interesting facts about the city. These facts include:

  • Population of around 640,000
  • Vegas is home to just over 110 hotels
  • There are 136 casinos
  • Tourism, gaming and conventions are its biggest industries
  • Vegas is home to over 100 parks

Those are only a few facts about Vegas. As you can see, the city has a large population and it has a strong economy, which means when you move there you will probably not struggle to find work. There are dozens and dozens of attractions throughout the city, so you will always have something to do.

Cost Of Living In Vegas

Moving to Las Vegas

The cost of living in Las Vegas is surprisingly affordable, especially when you compare Vegas to other major cities such as Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco to name a few. If you're looking to buy a house in Vegas, the median price for homes listed is $300,000. However, homes have been selling for an average of $278,000. As for rent, that too is affordable. You can expect to spend around $800 per month on a one-bedroom apartment.

Utilities such as garbage, electricity, water and heating costs an average of $150 per month. This is for a place that is 915-square-feet. Also, internet runs an average of $70 per month.

Taxes

One of the best things about moving to Las Vegas to live is taxes. When you live in Vegas, you will not pay taxes on your personal income, nor will you be subjected to paying state taxes. Furthermore, there's no franchise tax, inventory tax or corporate tax. You will pay sales tax on certain purchases, and as of now the sale state rate is 6.85%, which is how Vegas and the rest of the state makes most of its money. Furthermore, there is the Sin Tax. This is tax on cigarettes and alcohol, which is another way Vegas and the rest of Nevada generates revenues.

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Education

Top-Rated Las Vegas Colleges

  1. University of Nevada
  2. Nevada State College
  3. College of Southern Nevada
  4. University of Phoenix - Nevada
  5. Roseman University of Health Sciences
  6. Arizona College - Las Vegas
  7. Chamberlain University - Nevada
  8. Touro University - Nevada
  9. DeVry University - Nevada

Top-Rated Las Vegas Schools

  1. Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas Windmill
  2. Coral Academy of Science - Las Vegas Sand Ridge
  3. Pinecrest Academy Inspirada
  4. Pinecrest Academy St Rose
  5. Coral Academy of Science - Las Vegas Centennial Hills
  6. Doral Academy Cactus
  7. Doral Academy West Pebble

The Job Market

Before you move to Las Vegas, you should know a bit more about the job market. As previously mentioned, tourism, gaming and conventions are the biggest industries in the city. Within those industries are hundreds and hundreds of jobs, many of which you may be interested in applying for. Also, the tech sector continues to grow throughout the state, and this includes Las Vegas.

Also, Vegas is an excellent place to start a business. Remember, there's no corporate tax or personal income taxes, which is appealing to those who are in the startup phase of their business.

On that note, the median salary in Vegas is $48,000 per year. That is a bit lower than other major cities in the country, but the cost of living is significantly lower. If you budget right and live within your means, you can live really good in Vegas off of that amount.

The Weather

Many people know it's hot in Vegas, but they don't fully realize just how hot until they actually move there. The truth is that it gets extremely hot in the summer, which isn't surprising because Vegas is located right in the Mojave Desert. Since that is the case, it can get chilly at night when the sun goes down. Besides that, the city has over 290 days of sunshine every year.

In the summer, temperatures can easily stay at or above 100 degrees. In the winter, temperatures hover around 60 degrees. If you're not a fan of cold weather or freezing winters, then you will love living in Vegas.

Getting Around Las Vegas

Las Vegas People

Before you officially move to Las Vegas, you should know what transportation is like and how to get around the city. Your options for getting around include:

Walking - If you're moving to downtown Las Vegas, then you can likely walk to everything. This includes entertainment venues, casinos, restaurants, retail shops, grocery stores and more. Asides from walking, you can cycle because downtown Vegas is bicycle-friendly.

Bus - One of the easiest ways and more cost-effective ways to get around Las Vegas is via the bus. It doesn't matter if you need to get some where in downtown or in the more rural part of Vegas, you'll find a bus to get you where you need to go.

The Rail - Throughout Vegas, there are a number of monorails. They are affordable to ride and can get you to placers quickly.

Taxi - Although getting a taxi can be expensive, cabs are still in high demand in Vegas. You can easily hail a cab in downtown or just call one of the many cab companies that operate in Vegas.

Those are the main and best ways to get around Vegas. If you drive, then driving your own car to get to the outskirts of downtown is your best option.

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Moving Alone To Vegas

The thought of moving alone to Vegas can be intimidating at first, but there's actually many things to love about Vegas. For starters, you'll have no shortage of things to do when you settle in, such as heading over to one of the many bars, nightclubs, cafes or casinos to name a few. However, not all neighborhoods in the city are created equal when it comes to moving to Las Vegas alone. The best areas for singles to live include:

  • The Arts District
  • Summerlin (downtown)
  • Lone Mountain
  • Henderson

Each of the above are ideal for those moving to the city alone. Plus, there's quite a few rentals available in those areas, including studios and one-bedroom apartments.

Moving With Family To Vegas

Las Vegas is home to many neighborhoods that are suitable for those moving with families. If you're bringing your family with you to Vegas, then you want to consider the safety of an area, as well as schools and community before you decide where to move in Vegas. With that said, the top areas to look into when moving to the city with your family include:

  • Summerlin
  • Spring Valley
  • Green Valley
  • Southern Highlands

Those four neighborhoods are all ideal places to raise a family. There's a number of schools located in or near them, as well as attractions that you and the family will love.

See also: Best Places in U.S. to Raise a Family

Moving & Shipping Costs

Moving and shipping costs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, but there are various factors that will determine how much you'll pay. These factors include what you'll be shipping, whether or not you hire movers and what services you'll be using if you do hire professional movers. If you decide to do everything on your own, then you'll have to rent a truck big enough to transport your stuff and you will have to make the drive, which means spending money on gas.

Where you're moving from will play a major role in costs. Generally speaking, the longer the distance you're from Vegas, the more you'll pay. The closer you are, the less you'll pay.

The bottom line is there is no flat rate people pay in order to move to Vegas or to ship their belongings to their new place in Vegas. In order to get a good idea of how much you will pay, you'll want to request an estimate from a reputable moving company. Then you can decide whether or not to hire them to take care of your move.

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Relocation Tips

When it comes to relocating to Las Vegas, there's a few tips you'll want to consider. The top tips are:

1. Hire Professional Movers - The first tip is to hire a professional moving company. They'll handle everything related to your move, including packing your items, placing them safely and securely inside their moving trucks and then transport them to your new place in Vegas. Then they'll unload everything once they reach the destination.

As a general rule of thumb, you want to choose a reputable moving company that has plenty of experience. Choose a mover that is licensed and insured, that way you know you're belongings are in good hands. Don't forget about requesting an estimate, that way you have a general idea of how much you'll have to pay.

2. Make A Checklist Of Items To Be Packed - Create a checklist of all the items that will be going to Vegas. This includes furniture, appliances and other large items. In fact, the checklist should go in order from the most important stuff to be packed to the least important stuff. This list should be created weeks in advance to the move because this gives you time to add more items to it as time goes by.

3. Get Rid Of Junk - Get rid of any junk throughout your home. Bringing junk with you will only cost you more money. As a general rule of thumb, if you haven't bothered with something for months on end or paid it any attention, then you should junk it. De-cluttering your property will ensure stuff you really need will go with you.

4. Pay For Storage - If there are items you'd like to keep, but not necessarily bring with you to Vegas, then pay for storage. A reputable moving company may offer storage services, and at a good price. Even if they don't, they may advise you on where you can store your belongings. Vegas is home to many storage facilities, so finding an ideal one won't be difficult.

5. Change Your Address Before Moving - A lot of people wait until the last minute to change their address. Do not do this because it takes time for an address change to go through. All you have to do is go to your local post office and fill out a form that informs them you're changing your address. As a general rule of thumb, it's a good idea to do this 2-3 weeks prior to making your move.

If you keep the above relocation tips in mind, then your move to Las Vegas should go smoothly.

The above info should help you with your move to Las Vegas. Remember, it's best to hire a professional moving company that can provide you with experts who can move your belongings from your current location to Vegas. By using relocation services, your move will go smoothly and will involve a lot less stress.

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FAQs about Moving to Las Vegas

What are the pros and cons of living in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is in a true sense, the Entertainment Capital of the World. But as the saying goes, ‘Every coin has two sides’, so does living in the Sin City. To give you a clear idea, here are a few pros and cons of living in Las Vegas:

Pros:

  • Affordable cost of living.
  • No state income tax, as well as other tax benefits offered.
  • Incredible outdoor activities.
  • Community lifestyle.
  • Heavenly dining scenes.

Cons:

  • Lack of public transportation.
  • Really hot summers.
  • Less employment opportunities.

What is the highest paying job in Las Vegas?

According to data collated by Zippia.com, General Pediatricians are said to have the highest paying job in the city of Las Vegas, with a median income of around $250,000. Physicians, Airline Pilots and Flight Engineers, and Chief Executives are some of the other high paying professions in Las Vegas.

Where should I not live in Las Vegas?

Depending on factors like high crime rates, low house income and low employment rates, some of the neighborhoods you may not prefer staying in Las Vegas include: Twin Lakes, Downtown, East and West Las Vegas and the Meadows Village. 

What is the most common job in Las Vegas?

As per the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, food preparation and serving related jobs are the most common in Las Vegas. This isn’t surprising, as the resort city prides itself in having a flourishing dining culture. From counter workers and waiters to chefs and head cooks, a good chunk of the Las Vegas population is employed in this industry. Following close-by are the administrative, sales and the transportation industries, providing employment to many others in the city.

What is the racial makeup of Las Vegas?

With a total population of 651,319 inhabitants, Las Vegas is the most populated city in Nevada. It is a culturally diverse city with a racial makeup consisting of 44.2% White, 11.6% Black or African American, 32.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 6.4% Asian and 3.8% of other races, as per neighborhoodscout.

Is the Las Vegas housing market going to crash?

No, that is rather far from happening, at least currently in 2022. While many people thought that the pandemic would make the housing market in Las Vegas crash, just like it happened in the recession, recent trends have shown to take an opposite turn in that scenario. This could mainly be because of the affordable cost of living and low housing inventory that the city of Las Vegas has to offer. Currently, the median home value in Las Vegas is around $287,423, according to neighborhoodscout.

Where should I live in Las Vegas?

If you are planning to settle down with your family in Las Vegas, then Green Valley and Summerlin are some of the best neighborhoods to find a home in. With affordable home values and rent prices, these areas also have a lot of parks and recreational activities for everyone in a family. To add to it, some of the highly rated public schools are also found in the Green Valley and Summerlin areas.

On the other hand, if you plan on living all by yourself in the Sin City, then Lone Mountain, Henderson and Sovana, are some of the best neighborhoods for you to live in. Bustling nightlife and a variety of cafes and casinos are sure to give you a happening life in these localities of Las Vegas.

What famous people live in Las Vegas?

From singers, musicians, boxers to actors, Las Vegas is a known choice among many famous people who call the city their home. A few well known celebrities that live in Las Vegas include Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Nicolas Cage, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mike Tyson and Holly Madison.

What credit score is needed to buy a house in Las Vegas?

While the answer to this question isn’t a straightforward one, you are, on an average, expected to have a credit score between 590 to 710 or above, if you plan on buying a house in Las Vegas. Your credit score is an important element in deciding your loan value, and though there may be a few banks or lenders that could provide you a loan on a poor credit score, you may still have to pay extremely high interest rates. The kind of loan that you opt for, would finally decide the credit score you would need to buy a home in Las Vegas.

What should I avoid in Las Vegas?

Be it losing yourself in gambling or ending up choosing a wrong hotel, you really need to be on guard in Las Vegas. But there are a few things which you could clearly avoid in Sin City. These include – try not to use the casino ATMs and your hotel mini bar, as they are extra pricey and can burn a hole in your pocket sooner than you think. Also, do not buy water from street vendors as they are not authorised for selling any food or drink perishables. When you talk about places, though most parts of Las Vegas are safe for all tourists, you can still surely avoid wandering off in the Vegas Strip especially in the night. Downtown Vegas, Meadows Village and Huntridge are some of the other places you should avoid in Las Vegas.

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See also: 7 Best Moving Companies in Las Vegas | Moving From Los Angeles To Las Vegas - Expert Tips & Advice | Moving From Chicago To Las Vegas – Expert Tips & Advice