Las Vegas, NV
No state income tax, about half the price of LA, and a four-hour drive back.
Las Vegas has been the top out-of-state destination for people leaving Los Angeles for years. Nevada has no personal income tax, and in the most recent Redfin data the typical Las Vegas home sold for about $470K, roughly half the $904K for the typical LA County zip code.
The money picture
| Typical LA County zip | Las Vegas, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $904K | $470K |
| Median price per sq ft | $588 | $261 |
| Median days on market | n/a | 50 |
| State income tax on wages | Progressive, top rate 13.3% | None (Nevada has no personal income tax) |
Market figures: Redfin Data Center. Las Vegas: May 2026, all residential. LA: median of LA County zip-code medians, Mar 2026 to May 2026. Medians are a rough guide and hide a wide range of homes. Tax rates as published by each state for tax year 2026; rates change, so verify with the state's revenue department.
The typical single-family home sold for about $510K and the typical condo for about $235K. At $261 per square foot, the same budget covers far more space than in most of LA.
Nevada also limits how fast the property tax bill on an owner-occupied primary residence can rise, generally to 3% a year, under a partial abatement in state law. Owners typically need to claim their primary residence with the county assessor; see Clark County's tax abatement page for how it works.
Consider someone moving from LA with $300,000 a year in wages. In Nevada, the state income tax on those wages would be zero. In California, the same income would face a meaningful state tax bill under progressive brackets. This is a simplified illustration: the year of the move, part-year returns, other income and any California-source income all affect the real numbers, and a CPA is the right person to run them.
What people tend to weigh
- Proximity. About four hours by car to much of LA, plus short, frequent flights.
- Climate. Very hot summers and mild winters. Cooling, shade and pool costs are part of the budget.
- Housing stock. Mostly newer construction, many master-planned communities, and a lot of HOAs with their own rules and dues. Review them before buying.
- Henderson and beyond. Henderson is a separate city southeast of Las Vegas with similar prices at the median. Our Las Vegas vs. Henderson post compares them.
The move starts with the sale.
Before you land anywhere, your LA home has to sell, and how it sells sets your budget for everything after. The seller's playbook covers timing, California withholding at closing, transfer taxes and the questions to bring your CPA.