When it comes to evaluating the cost of living in a given area, there are a number of different factors to take into consideration. When people think of the cost of living in California, they often think of the cost of living in large cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco. In reality, however, California is a very large state, so the cost of living in many smaller towns and cities in California might be closer to the cost of living in the midwest or other more reasonable locations.
While the cost of living in Las Vegas is relatively low in comparison to many places in the U.S. and perhaps significantly lower than that of Los Angeles or San Francisco, that doesn’t mean that it’s cheaper to live in Las Vegas than in any city in California. For instance, while the cost of living is roughly twenty percent lower in Las Vegas than in the greater Los Angeles area, it is actually slightly higher than that of Bakersfield, California.
Other considerations
When considering the cost of living, however, it is also important to not just do a straight dollar for dollar comparison. For instance, if you live in a large city like Los Angeles and you lose your job or are laid off, there is a very high likelihood you can find another similar job somewhat close to you and perhaps even for roughly the same salary. Las Vegas, however, is in the middle of a desert and is the only large city for hundreds of miles. If you were to lose your job in Las Vegas, you might have a more difficult time finding another one unless there is a high demand for your skillset in Las Vegas.
Another thing to consider when evaluating the cost of living in Las Vegas is the types of jobs that are the most prevalent. Casinos are by far the largest industry in Las Vegas, which are some hybrid of the hospitality and entertainment industries. If you are comfortable working in a casino or casino environment and have job skills suitable to that industry, then you might find a suitable abundance of employment opportunities. That being said, it cannot be denied that a great deal of business in Las Vegas takes place at night, so many of those employment opportunities might also be overnight shifts. Over time, working overnight can take a toll on your physical and mental health, so that also needs to be factored into the overall cost of living in Las Vegas.
Although casinos may provide a large majority of the jobs to be had in Las Vegas, that also doesn’t mean those are the only jobs available. Just like any city of its size, Las Vegas also needs teachers, police officers, fire fighters, bank tellers, dry cleaners, coffee shops, restaurants, daycare centers and other type of service-oriented business. Again, keep in mind, however, that the size of Las Vegas is limited so there are only so many positions available outside of the casinos and there may be some pretty stiff competition for them from people who already live there and are looking to get away from working in the casinos.
One last thing to consider when considering the overall cost of living in Las Vegas is that it is located in the desert and desert living is not for everyone. Having said that, however, is it also important to note that Los Angeles and much of the surrounding area is also a desert, so in that sense, the differences between living in Los Vegas and living in southern California may not be as great. Northern California, however, is a mountainous region, so a move from Northern California to Las Vegas may not be as desirable.
If you think that buying a home in Las Vegas might be right for you, give us a call today at 702-840-4415 and let us help you find the home of your dreams.
