Why Are So Many People Moving to Las Vegas?

Las Vegas is more than a casino city. It’s now a thriving entertainment hub with a diverse economy offering massive opportunities to people who move there. It’s not quite on the scale of New York or Los Angeles, but it still offers an unbeatable quality of life for those brave enough to make the move. 

According to the City of Las Vegas, around 5,500 new people arrive every year, bringing the population to over 650,000. If you count the entire metro area of more than 2.2 million people, that figure rises to 158,000 moving from California since 2020!

So why are so many people upping sticks and going to Las Vegas, Nevada? Let’s find out: 

Career Opportunities

For starters, Las Vegas offers exceptional career opportunities. It recently ranked among the top three cities in the U.S. for job market recovery after the pandemic: a testament to Nevada’s sensible economic policies. 

The main career opportunities in Las Vegas include: 

• Leisure and hospitality jobs – 26.8% of jobs
• Trade, transportation, and utility jobs – 19.1%
• Professional business services work (consultants, accountants, legal professionals) – 14.6%
• Education and health jobs (teachers, nurses, doctors, specialists) – 11.1%
• Government roles – 11%

There are also plenty of opportunities in the construction sector because Las Vegas is always building. Numerous contractors operate in the region and need people to construct new housing and business premises. 

Food And Entertainment

Las Vegas’s food and entertainment options are also encouraging people to move to the city. There’s always something to eat or do in town. 

The smattering of celebrity chef restaurants is a major pull. Gordon Ramsay runs Hell’s Kitchen (named after the TV series of the same name) located on Las Vegas Boulevard, which offers an all-American dining experience with a dramatic twist. Then there’s Nobu, a high-end restaurant by famous Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and the iconic É by José Andrés. 

You can also find plenty of all-you-can-eat options in the city. The Buffet at Wynn is the place to go for fresh food while the Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan is for those wanting to sample smaller dishes (and preserve their figures!)

As for entertainment, Las Vegas spoils its residents. Places to go on The Strip include Bellagio Fountains (an outdoor water and light show) and the High Roller Observation Wheel that provides awesome city views (ideal for dates). You can also tour the Venetian Canals and enjoy the spirit of Venice in the heart of the American West, riding a gondola for a small fee. 

As you might imagine, Las Vegas’s nightlife centers around the Strip. Must-visit events include Omnia at Caesars Palace and XS at Wynn Las Vegas. For live performances, you can go to Drai’s Nightclub or various casinos for live shows by headliners, like magicians Penn & Teller, or bands, including Lady Gaga, Usher and more. 

Affordable Housing

Housing in Las Vegas isn’t cheap like it is in some of the southern states. However, it is more affordable than other locations, like California or New England. 

Data show residents pay $268 per square foot of real estate in Las Vegas, putting average home prices at $469,000. Given the demand for the available space, prices are rising faster now than at any other time in the last ten years, reflecting the need to leave nearby states like California. 

Starter homes in the city are cheaper. Residents pay around $300,000 for a first-time property with one or two bedrooms, rising to between $320,000 and $600,000 for a four-bedroom house in a reasonable neighborhood.  

The cost of living in Las Vegas is also below the national average (if only by 1%). Gas is $3.75 per gallon, energy bills are $215 per month, and a doctor’s visit is $121 per session, around 12% lower than the national average. 

However, food prices are slightly higher than the national average because of Las Vegas’s location in the country’s desert interior, but not by much. Expect to pay an extra 5% on weekly grocery shopping compared to the average U.S. city. 

Low Taxes

Low taxes are another reason people are moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Nevada has no state income tax, unlike California, meaning residents can save between 1% and 12.3% per year just by hopping over the border. It also offers other low tax rates. For example, the sales tax is just 8.375% in Clark County (the sum of the State of Nevada sales tax rate and the county rate), which is below the 10.75% some California residents pay. And the property tax is only 0.77%, below the national average of 1.19%. 

Other specific tax benefits and incentives include: 

• No inheritance tax if you live there for more than three years
• No taxes on labor, franchises, or corporate income

Now You Know Why So Many People Are Moving To Las Vegas

After reading this article, you should have a clearer picture why so many people are moving to Las Vegas. Properties in the city are in high demand!