Weird thread. There's some information about living in Las Vegas, including some details I added, in this post: http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-26481.html
To make it about LA vs LV - I struggle with this myself. A lot of the people I met in Las Vegas moved to LA and I miss having them around (no homo). I have not lived in LA, but I'm there about once a year and for about a month after every visit I get an itch to move there. What's skewing my perspective is that I'm only there for something interesting - a case, etc. - and don't get a full perspective on what living there actually would be like.
To avoid repetition, I'll limit my comments to things I don't think I've addressed before.
State Income Tax
Not having a state income tax, and having extremely lax business taxes (no corporate taxes per se, but a "use tax" of 1-2% of activity within the state), definitely has its perks. But it also comes at a cost. I'd actually go so far as to say the average person makes out worse without the state income tax. If you have a trust, a business, or are just a high networth individual realizing passive income from investments or actively earning money, then Nevada is awesome. But if you're middle-income dude who has to rely on public services in any meaningful way, you're getting a raw deal. Public education in the state is the country's anchorman, or close to it, by virtually every metric. While you're not paying state income taxes, you're paying more to register your vehicle, 8%+ sales taxes in Clark County, and receiving crumbling services at the local level. Nevada state government has been awesome in my experience. But how often is the average dude going to interact with the attorney general's office or secretary of state compared to, say, the local police? That's where the strain has been. Since there's no state income tax, a lot of taxation comes from gaming - and that's still off since the last downturn. Time Magazine recently had a detailed look at how Casino revenues have recovered somewhat, but room rates and average amounts gambled are still down significantly. (The revenue has been made up through nightclubs and shows.)
When you compare Nevada's lack of a tax with California's draconian taxes, it's not much of a challenge at all. But if you were comparing different states, I don't think it would be as decisive a victory in Nevada's favor. Unless you're doing significantly better than average, I'm not convinced that Nevada's lack of a state income tax is a good thing.
The "Can't Make It In LA" Issue
It's funny, I was actually talking with a co-worker yesterday about how there was (is?) a banking acronym for people who wash out to Hong Kong, FILTH (Failed in London, Try Hong [Kong]), and that it's surprising there's not a Las Vegas equivalent. I never tried LA, so I don't know if I failed there. A lot of migrants to Las Vegas came here (or back here) right after college, or to change careers. So, I don't think this is entirely accurate, but it may depend on your industry.
In all honesty, I have been wrestling to find the time to take the California bar for a while. I wonder how things would go in LA. I see where the idea that people in Vegas couldn't hack it in LA or NY originates. I don't think it's entirely accurate, but the best retort to it is "it depends."
Conclusion
If you're just starting out, Vegas definitely will be cheaper. While not the size of LA, the transience will make it easy to meet new people - whether they'll be valuable contacts is another question.
I'm planning to keep Vegas as a base of operations and foray outward and set down logistics elsewhere. I don't see how that's a bad plan, unless you're trying to do that with the opposite coast (NY / MIA), which can be difficult logistically. Realistically, if you had the desired connections and money weren't an issue, you'd be in LA and this conversation wouldn't be necessary.
P.S.
Yes, you need a camelback. If you do anything outdoors (or even if you don't) it's a great purchase.
To make it about LA vs LV - I struggle with this myself. A lot of the people I met in Las Vegas moved to LA and I miss having them around (no homo). I have not lived in LA, but I'm there about once a year and for about a month after every visit I get an itch to move there. What's skewing my perspective is that I'm only there for something interesting - a case, etc. - and don't get a full perspective on what living there actually would be like.
To avoid repetition, I'll limit my comments to things I don't think I've addressed before.
State Income Tax
Not having a state income tax, and having extremely lax business taxes (no corporate taxes per se, but a "use tax" of 1-2% of activity within the state), definitely has its perks. But it also comes at a cost. I'd actually go so far as to say the average person makes out worse without the state income tax. If you have a trust, a business, or are just a high networth individual realizing passive income from investments or actively earning money, then Nevada is awesome. But if you're middle-income dude who has to rely on public services in any meaningful way, you're getting a raw deal. Public education in the state is the country's anchorman, or close to it, by virtually every metric. While you're not paying state income taxes, you're paying more to register your vehicle, 8%+ sales taxes in Clark County, and receiving crumbling services at the local level. Nevada state government has been awesome in my experience. But how often is the average dude going to interact with the attorney general's office or secretary of state compared to, say, the local police? That's where the strain has been. Since there's no state income tax, a lot of taxation comes from gaming - and that's still off since the last downturn. Time Magazine recently had a detailed look at how Casino revenues have recovered somewhat, but room rates and average amounts gambled are still down significantly. (The revenue has been made up through nightclubs and shows.)
When you compare Nevada's lack of a tax with California's draconian taxes, it's not much of a challenge at all. But if you were comparing different states, I don't think it would be as decisive a victory in Nevada's favor. Unless you're doing significantly better than average, I'm not convinced that Nevada's lack of a state income tax is a good thing.
The "Can't Make It In LA" Issue
It's funny, I was actually talking with a co-worker yesterday about how there was (is?) a banking acronym for people who wash out to Hong Kong, FILTH (Failed in London, Try Hong [Kong]), and that it's surprising there's not a Las Vegas equivalent. I never tried LA, so I don't know if I failed there. A lot of migrants to Las Vegas came here (or back here) right after college, or to change careers. So, I don't think this is entirely accurate, but it may depend on your industry.
In all honesty, I have been wrestling to find the time to take the California bar for a while. I wonder how things would go in LA. I see where the idea that people in Vegas couldn't hack it in LA or NY originates. I don't think it's entirely accurate, but the best retort to it is "it depends."
Conclusion
If you're just starting out, Vegas definitely will be cheaper. While not the size of LA, the transience will make it easy to meet new people - whether they'll be valuable contacts is another question.
I'm planning to keep Vegas as a base of operations and foray outward and set down logistics elsewhere. I don't see how that's a bad plan, unless you're trying to do that with the opposite coast (NY / MIA), which can be difficult logistically. Realistically, if you had the desired connections and money weren't an issue, you'd be in LA and this conversation wouldn't be necessary.
P.S.
Yes, you need a camelback. If you do anything outdoors (or even if you don't) it's a great purchase.