Summer highs in Las Vegas often pass 110 degrees, yet the Strip in most people's heads is exactly as over the top as advertised, from the resorts and the Sphere to the fountains at the Bellagio and the shows. But about 680,000 people actually live in the city, inside a metro area above two million, and locals mostly spend their time in suburbs like Summerlin and Henderson.
Outside the casinos there is more than you might expect. Red Rock Canyon is a short drive, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are close, and the Arts District and Fremont Street give the city a grittier, more local side. Housing costs a bit more than the national average, though rents have softened lately. Summers are brutally hot, so plan for that. Watch for pickpockets in crowds, car break-ins in garages, and some rough stretches away from the tourist zones after dark.
Cities with a similar character, anywhere on the site.
Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.
- Known as
- Sin City; The Entertainment Capital of the World; The Gambling Capital of the World; Vegas; The Marriage Capital; Capital of Second Chances
- Founded
- 1905 (townsite auction May 15); incorporated 1911
- Airports
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), about 5 miles south of the Strip; North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), general aviation; Henderson Executive Airport (HND), general aviation
- Tipping
- Restaurants 18-20%; bartenders and cocktail servers $1-2 per drink; dealers $1-5 per round or when winning; valet $3-5 at drop-off and pickup; bellhop $2-5 per bag; housekeeping $3-5 per night; showroom maitre d' $10-20 for better seats; taxi and rideshare 15-20%; buffet 10-15%
About this data
Population is Census July 1, 2025 estimate (679,817 city) with metro (2,265,461) from Wikipedia MSA figure, vintage not confirmed; area, elevation and coordinates from Wikipedia; home price from Redfin and rent from Apartments.com (Aug/Sep 2026); crime from NeighborhoodScout using 2024 FBI data; cost of living from BestPlaces. Hotel rates, resort fees, tipping, neighborhoods, distances and daily budget are approximate estimates not verified by live lookup
