updated May 31, 2023
In our view, and in a nutshell, the number of attributes that recommend relocating to Las Vegas include: a favorable tax climate (no state income tax, no personal city or county taxes, reasonable sales tax); excellent fall, winter, and spring weather (mild temperatures and rare snowfall); a comparatively low cost of living (though it continually rises as Las Vegas becomes a more popular destination for new residents) and plentiful places to live (Vegas is overbuilt, but less so than in years past); crime is centralized in out-of-the-way areas; dining (particularly loss leaders) and entertainment options, especially nightlife; and an atmosphere of tolerance (racial, religious, and class acceptance).
The attributes that argue against include: a car is a necessity to negotiate the sprawl (and public transportation isn't great); car insurance is relatively expensive; more drunk drivers than average (the booze is often free); unless you're a professional, employment can be hard to find, low-paying, and short-term; the summer heat is extreme; the potential of problem gambling is always there (especially if you tend toward compulsive behavior, or simply don't have other interests and social outlets to occupy you); lower taxes mean fewer social services; health care, though improving, is still lacking compared to other cities of the same size; the water is extremely hard, requiring filtering; cultural events, though improving, are still limited; the homeless situation is serious; and the transience makes it difficult to make and keep friends.
Given all the foregoing, it's not an easy decision. Many people relocate to Las Vegas to escape their pasts, but the question becomes, where do you relocate to escape Las Vegas?
We would emphasize that living here is not for the faint of heart or the infirm of constitution.