I’ve never lived in Vegas but I knew a limo driver there. He said life for locals was much different then the tourist coming through. They would never go to the strip or casinos unless it was work related. Henderson is (or was) the fastest growing city in the US. It would be interesting to talk to SuchAFob a year from now and talk about living there.
I’ve donated a lot of money to Las Vegas - I lived in San Diego and the Bay Area.
If you’re single and want more job op’s than dealing cards, LA is probably better.
Depending on where you live, and if you have roommates or not, it can be cheaper than that. When I was in college, I paid around $400 for a room. I always ended up getting a good deal, but you should be able to find something for around $500, if you don’t mind having roommates and living outside the city a bit (San Fernando valley, etc.).
If culture is important, LA or SF is definately better than Vegas. There’s not much to do in Vegas other than gamble. LA has everything when it comes to movies, food, shows… whatever you’re looking for; you just might have to drive a bit to get there. On that note, so does SF, but SF’s public transportation is great; in LA (and maybe Vegas too) you pretty much have to buy a car. So, a lot of things to compare, good luck! I lived in both LA and SF, and went to Vegas to waste money a few times, so if you need any info just PM me.
umm, not a chance.
i lived in vegas a few years ago. rent is skyrocketing. i had a nasty little one bedroom apartment in a sketchy part of town and it cost me $640/month.
the average home price is about $300,000…not gonna get a house for $500/month…
good luck, vegas is fun…stay as far away from the strip as you can.
Just curious: if Las Vegas is basically a street with casinos surrounded by bland American suburban sprawl, and you recommend staying away from “the strip,” then what exactly would be fun about Las Vegas?
What I mean is, I don’t find anything about the gambling side of Las Vegas in the least appealing, but many people do like to gamble and see the shows, etc. So if you don’t do the “glitzy” stuff, what else is there?
Just curious: if Las Vegas is basically a street with casinos surrounded by bland American suburban sprawl, and you recommend staying away from “the strip,” then what exactly would be fun about Las Vegas?
What I mean is, I don’t find anything about the gambling side of Las Vegas in the least appealing, but many people do like to gamble and see the shows, etc. So if you don’t do the “glitzy” stuff, what else is there?[/quote]
I think you may underestimate the appeal that “bland American suburban sprawl” has for a lot of Americans. (And you are not alone – I bet, for example, that a number of readers will initially think that my first sentence there is a joke until they get to this one.)
Wide open suburbs are not my cup of tea, but many people really do enjoy living in them – they wonder why it is that anyone would choose to live packed together like ants in Manhattan with millions of others. Convenience of transportation is probably a factor, for example. To my friends from Manhattan, convenient transportation means not being forced to own and drive a car. To most of my friends in the western US, convenient transportation means wide roads, easy parking, and not being forced to take crowded public transportation. How important people think it is to have lots of personal space (your own car vs. a crowded subway, suburban house vs. urban apartment etc.) is, in my experience, something that depends heavily on how much you grew up having. So the open space, parks, the ability to have a decent sized garden, a feeling of safety and familiarity, the fact that some parents believe that this is a good environment in which to raise a family… many Americans just prefer living in that kind of environment.
In terms of weather, Las Vegas is too hot for my taste, but for three of the four seasons it’s exactly what people are looking for. Sunny almost every day. Virtually no humidity.
It’s also a booming city, with relatively low taxes and plenty of career opportunities. New projects, new sports teams coming in, lots of young people. A massive number of high tech companies seem to be setting up there.
Anyway, my impression is that I probably wouldn’t enjoy living there, but I can see why it might appeal to some people. 
I’m planning on moving to LA toward the end of the month, if all plans work out. LA is fine with me. I’ve been to Vegas, and didn’t like it but that was only a drive thru. As for the entertainment side, it really seems to be picking up quite well.
Vegas is 4/5 hrs away from LA. But I rather be in LA for job opportunities.
If you move to LA SAF let me know.
I sure will!!