12 Jan 10 Reasons to Hate Living in Las Vegas
A few weeks ago, I wrote about all the wonderful things that come with living in Las Vegas.
And while Las Vegas’s quirks took some getting used to, once you settle in and see the city for what it is – and what it’s becoming – you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot to settle. This is especially true for travelers like Drew and me. The airport has plenty of flights and lots of deals. Plus you’re an easy drive from some really cool National Parks and other world-class cities.
But you knew it couldn’t be all sunshine, rainbows and low cost of living, right? Yeah, there are some downsides, too. Here are the worst things about living in Las Vegas.
Here are the "Cons" to living in Las Vegas
1. Access to Vices
Let’s get this out of the way — if you have vices, Las Vegas isn’t the city for you. Just about everything you can imagine is at your fingertips in Las Vegas – we’re not called Sin City for nothing, y’all. So if you struggle with saying “no” to gambling, drinking, drugs, sex – you name it – there are better places to live.
As Tony Curtis said – “If you know how to live in Vegas, you can have the best time.”
2. Slot machines are everywhere
It doesn’t seem weird, until you’re grabbing some eggs and milk at the grocery store and you look up and see people playing slots. They’re also at the gas station, your favorite burrito place, the airport, and your cozy local bar. You’ll start hearing that ching ching ching sound everywhere – maybe even in your sleep!
3. It Might Be a Dry Heat, But Y’all It’s Still a Hot Heat
Yeah, we like to say “but it’s a dry heat!” when we talk about Las Vegas’ weather. While that’s true – and it does make a bigger difference than you’d imagine – 125 degrees is still really f-ing hot! Check out why you shouldn’t factor in the heat when considering living in Las Vegas.
But, the same way people in Grand Rapids know how to deal with snow in the winter, we know how to deal with heat in the summer.
- Park your car in the shade when you can.
- Have a sunshade to put on your windshield.
- Try to go out first thing in the morning or after sunset.
- And always have water on hand.
4. The Crime Rate Isn’t Great
Just like any big city, Las Vegas has its fair share of crime. A lot of it you can avoid by not living in a bad neighborhood and not hanging out in bad places.
We were told when we moved here how important moving to a neighborhood with an entrance gate would be for security. Does that sound bougie? In Vegas, it’s not. You can find homes and apartments with security gates at just about every price point here. And while a lot of that is security theater, I can assure you that our neighborhood’s gate has definitely thwarted would-be criminals.
If you want to talk neighborhoods and locations, shoot me a message!
5. Cultural Opportunities Are Limited
This is the thing that took me the longest to get used to about living in Las Vegas. Coming from Washington, D.C., Drew and I were used to attending dozens of museums, galleries, book readings, and international festivals.
You’re simply not going to find that here in Las Vegas.
The Smith Center does a great job at offering performing arts and the comedy scene here is actually really good. But while the casinos host regular big-name concerts, the opportunity to see your favorite up-and-coming band is limited. Also, don’t expect a lot of small theater companies, author readings or art-house movie screenings.
However, you will find a large international dining scene. Las Vegas’ sizeable Mexican and Hawaiian populations bring wonderful food options to the city, and our Chinatown offers cuisine from all over Asia. But we also have terrific German, Polish, Peruvian, Russian….so many cultural cuisines to choose from!
6. You’ll Most Likely Live in A Cookie-Cutter Home
Unless you buy something that is from the 1970’s or earlier, you’ll likely be in a tract build home in a master-planned community. I enjoy architecture and design so the mind-numbing sameness is a little soul sucking. In every city we’ve called home, there are distinct neighborhoods – where is someone blindfolded you and dropped you off there you could probably say where you were. In Las Vegas all the neighborhoods and home designs look pretty similar. Generally speaking, you have the Tuscan villa (this is the design of 75% of the homes in Las Vegas), the mid-century (all downtown / Arts District), and the modern stucco (out in Summerlin, Henderson, and Centennial Hills).
7. Casinos Rule
This isn’t really a negative to living in Las Vegas as much as it is just something to get used to. Want to go bowling? Head to your locals’ casino. Want to go to a movie theatre? Yep, head on down to the casino. (Our favorite is the nearby Red Rock Lanes, part of Red Rock Casino.)
You’ll find out pretty quickly that many everyday things like malls, restaurants – bowling and movies are centered around casinos. My favorite is when there are children’s arcades in casinos – training ‘em early, folks!
8. Health Care
There’s a saying here amongst the locals – “Where’s the best place in Vegas to go when you need good healthcare? The airport. So you can go someplace else.”
It takes forever to secure an appointment and the doctors are quick and cold. However, I have found an endocrinologist who I trust (I have hashimoto’s disease) and an excellent gynecologist (shoot me a message if you want that recommendation!).
9. The School System is Pretty Terrible
Las Vegas’ K-12 education system (CCSD) isn’t awesome so that is definitely something to consider if you’re looking to raise a family here. In 2019, the CCSD was ranked 35th in the country for academic achievement with an overall score of D+ on EdWeek’s annual national report.
10. The Dating Scene (or so I’ve been told)
Since I came here married, I can’t speak to this personally. However I’ve read about the dating struggles in Las Vegas from multiple sources many times. While this is less so now, a lot of people have moved to Las Vegas with a transient mentality. Make a quick buck. Leave. The city also attracts its fair share of Guido, douchey types and gold-diggers. That probably makes it difficult to find a meaningful, lasting relationship.
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I’m Sarah – a southern gal who found her way to the Las Vegas desert! Welcome to my travels with my husband, life with our two dogs, and all the things in between.
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Spent yesterday afternoon with @NevadaLtGov in Laughlin at the @laughlin_bullhead_airshow 🛩️ We saw amazing historic, military, and civilian aircraft and automobiles, but my highlight was meeting a true hero, a 101-year-old WW2 and Korean War veteran 🇺🇸 Forever grateful for his service and sacrifice.
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#laughlinnv #getalittleoutthere #nevada #travelnevada #visitnevada #roadtripusa #heroesamongus #patriot #americanmade #americanhero
Visited @svshilohranch in Sandy Valley yesterday and left truly inspired by their dedication to supporting veterans and protecting Nevada`s wild mustangs. Incredible to see the positive impact they`re making! 🐎🇺🇸
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Drew and I ✅ off a big bucket list item! We hiked 85 miles to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. 🏔️ 🥾
We hiked around 6 hours each day walking mixed terrain of rocks, boulders, ice slopes, and glaciers. Our trek also included Chola Pass which, at around 18,000 feet, is no easy feat! 😛
We`re grateful to have had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the majesty of the Himalayas.
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Tweet-hearts 💕🥰💕🥰
Got to pet a cockatoo named Woody, two ferrets, a dwarf hamster, a Guinea pig, and the cutest pup named Jasper at a pet adoption event!
Shelters across the country are busting at the seams with beautiful, loving animals ready for a forever home. If you`re looking for a pet, please check the local shelters to find your perfect new family member!
#adoptdontshop #petloversofinstagram #vegasdogmom #nevadavotersforanimals #igpetlovers #vegasdog #cockatoosofinstagram #cockatoolove #cockatoolover @nevada.spca @govegasdog @heavencanwaitlv @snvbeaglerescue
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Las Vegas a Good Place to live?
Absolutely! Drew and I love it here. Check out all the reasons why we love living in Las Vegas.
Can you live in a las vegas hotel?
There are condos available on the Strip to purchase or rent. Since most locals rarely visit the Strip unless friends are in town or they work there, it’s probably not the most convenient place to live. In my opinion, there are a lot of hassles with very few benefits.
Also, you should know that the Strip and “downtown” are different places. The Strip is an unincorporated area in Paradise, Nevada. Downtown is where Fremont Street is as well as the Arts District and is an up-and-coming area with a super cool indie vibe.
Is Las Vegas a good place to live for families?
100% yes! There are communities and neighborhoods throughout Las Vegas that make raising a family and living here ideal. Summerlin, Centennial Hills, and Henderson are popular choices for those looking for quiet, family-friendly, and safe spots to live.
Is it expensive to live in las vegas?
For its size, Las Vegas isn’t an expensive city to live in. The average home costs around $270,000 and you can rent for around $800-900/month for a one-bedroom apartment. Also, thanks to tourism, Nevada has the 3rd lowest state and local tax rates in the U.S. We also have low property and state sales tax rates.
If you’re moving from a city where you didn’t need a car, you’ll need to factor in a car purchase as well. Also, when we moved to Las Vegas, I was shocked to find out how expensive car insurance is here. I asked our agent why it was almost three times what we were paying in D.C. and was told that it was because of the amount of luxury, high-end cars on the road, as well as theft.
What else should I know about living in Las Vegas?
Learn the tricks to deal with the heat, invest in moisturizers and eye drops, and learn to pronounce the state’s name correctly.
It’s ne-VA-duh (long “a”), not ne-VAH-duh. Listen how to pronounce Nevada like a local here.
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