Moving to Vegas, Baby!

Moving to Fabulous Las Vegas!

Moving from Orlando to Las Vegas may put you on the opposite side of the country, but there are plenty of similarities between Sin City and The City Beautiful. Can’t live without roller coasters and themed restaurants? Vegas has you covered. Hate cold weather? You’ll feel right at home in Vegas. And while the desert city is about a 4-hour drive from the ocean, nearby Lake Mead offers plenty of aquatic activities for the whole family. And if you’re looking for a good place to day trip from, Vegas is centrally located between Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon, and Death Valley.

If you’re one of the 60,000 or so people moving to Vegas this year, keep reading to get yourself acquainted on the city.

 

black jack dealerJobs

In Orlando, the top industries are health care, travel, hospitality, and retail, while the top job industries in Vegas are…health care, travel, hospitality, and retail. Because so many tourists flock to both cities each year, the job markets are pretty comparable. The casinos create plenty of gambling-related jobs, but with all the other entertainment options the city has to offer, there’s plenty of jobs to be had in hotels, restaurants, ticket booths, and more.

But what if you don’t have any hospitality jobs on your resume? Not to worry. Zappos’ CEO Tony Hsieh built the company’s corporate headquarters smack in the middle of Downtown Las Vegas and seeks to revitalize the area as a center for entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation with the Downtown Project. What happens in Vegas…makes Vegas better!

 

Nearby Neighborhoods

The city of Las Vegas itself is relatively small (much of the strip isn’t even technically in the city of Las Vegas!), and much of the area’s residents live in the surrounding cities. So if you’re not too thrilled to live in the middle of Sin City, check out one of these nearby spots.

Boulder City: This quaint town has a small-town atmosphere that’s the complete opposite of Vegas. With historic architecture and no gaming, Boulder City is a perfect choice for those who “have” to move to Vegas for work but don’t want to expose their children (or themselves) to the casinos.

Henderson: The second-largest city in Nevada, trendy, family-friendly Henderson offers traditional residential living with big-city amenities. The city is separate from Las Vegas, but you’d only know that if you looked on a map. You’ll be close to the sights but still have a relatively “normal” hub to come home to. Need more convincing? Bloomberg Business has named Henderson “one of the best cities to live in America.”

Summerlin: Summerlin is an active residential community with lots of golf courses and bike trails, offering a side of Vegas that most visitors never bother to see. If Henderson is too close to the action for you, Summerlin might be just what you’re looking for.

 

vegas desertWeather

Much like Orlando, Las Vegas has very mild winters (which means you won’t have to invest in any winter coats before your move), but the climate is much warmer in the summer. The average July temperature in Las Vegas can get as high as 106 degrees, so make sure you stay well-hydrated.

The climate is also much drier, with an average rainfall of just over 9 inches (compare that to Orlando’s average of 53 inches). So, rather than a tropical backyard oasis with hibiscus and orange trees like you might have had back home, your Vegas yard might be full of cacti and have gravel instead of sod. But all that dry mountain air may (occasionally) bring you something you don’t see in Orlando: snow!

 

Cost of Living

Just like in Florida, the tourism industry in Las Vegas pays most of the taxes for you, so there is no state income tax and the sales tax is a (relatively) low 8.1%. In fact, the cost of living in Vegas is lower than the national average, and only slightly higher than Orlando’s (in some areas). Being able to keep the same standard of living after your move should make the transition easier.

The Vegas real estate market has also seen an upswing in the last 5 years. The median home sale price over the past year was $180,000 compared to Orlando’s median price of $165,000. What’s more is that Vegas prices have increased this year, meaning your investment should be quick to pay off in the future.

You’d rather rent? Apartment prices average $977/month (about 6.4% lower than the average price in Orlando), with one-bedroom units averaging at $766 a month (about 12% lower than the Orlando average).

 

Family Life

If you’re looking for a family-friendly place to raise your kids, Las Vegas probably isn’t the first city that comes to mind. But while gambling, drinking, and partying are common along the strip (yes, even for permanent residents), there’s no reason that your family can’t find plenty to do in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Vegas may be 2,800 miles from Disney World, but there are plenty of family-friendly rides and shows at the casinos on the strip. Just be aware that slot machines are everywhere (even the airport!) so if you want to keep your kids from being exposed to gambling, you might want to choose one of the area’s more conservative locales (like Boulder City) to settle down in.

 

Like any long-distance move, moving to Las Vegas—different state, different coast, different time zone—is a big step, and one you don’t want to make without plenty of knowledge and assistance. Research the neighborhood, peruse the job openings, talk to your family, and (when you’re ready), call Cento Family Movers to learn more about the process of a long-distance move. Our crew members have experience moving to all of the lower 48 states and we can help you, too!

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