So your mind is set and you are finally going to do it. You’re moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Even though moving to a new city — especially one as exciting at Vegas — is exciting, it’s not always easy. It can be intimidating, stressful, and you’ll probably have endless questions about your new home. To help alleviate some of the unknown, Neighborhoods.com offers up nine valuable tips for any Sin City newcomer.

The Strip Gets Really Old, Really Quick

Yes, the allure of The Strip is mesmerizing when it’s shown in movies, on television, or during a weekend visit. When a person lives here permanently, however, it’s a whole other ballgame. The Strip is expensive, especially now that free self-parking is a thing of the past at most casinos. There are also many aspects of The Strip that are very superficial and just plain exhausting (like dealing with all those tourists).

This isn’t to say that anyone who lives here never visits The Strip, but once you’re a local, trips down there tend to be few and far between. Most locals learn to find entertainment at places that are less of a hassle, like local casinos, shopping districts, and gaming bars close to home. For example, Red Rock Casino in Summerlin caters to locals, M Resort Spa Casino is a local casino in Henderson near Southern Highlands, and Aliante Casino in the city of North Las Vegas is also a favorite. For shopping and eating out, locals love Downtown Summerlin, The District at Green Valley Ranch near Green Valley, and the centrally located Town Square. 

Vegas is Inexpensive

Outside of The Strip, the rest of Vegas is relatively inexpensive. The price of groceries is reasonable, its possible to have a fun night out on a budget, and the cost of living is low. According to Fortune Builders, the median home price is $220,500 and the average cost of a two-bedroom rental is just over $1,000. Two reasonably priced and favorable parts of town to consider are Spring Valley and Centennial Hills.

Summers are Hot, Plan Accordingly

The dry heat in Vegas is intense. The average temperature from June to September is roughly 100 degrees. Don’t worry about it too much though, after a few years you’ll surprisingly adjust. 

In the summer, it's best to plan your day around the heat. Try to exercise, run errands, and go grocery shopping during the cooler parts of the day. It’s also extremely beneficial to have transportation with air-conditioning.

Also, make sure you’re including a decent space in your budget for your power bill. It will get very high during the summer months.

Allergy Season is Brutal

One thing you’ll hear regularly from locals is how bad allergy season is. A mix of dry weather, constant winds, high pollen, and a city full of olive and mulberry trees make the spring and early summer months almost unbearable for some. Learn what will help control your allergy symptoms and keep it handy at all times.

Get Your Cards in Order

Since Las Vegas is a tourist town, there are a lot of great jobs out here for hospitality professionals. Keep in mind though that service industry positions require you to have Food Handler Safety Training card from the Southern Nevada Health District. Also, anyone applying for a position that sells, serves, or is around alcohol will need a TAM (Techniques of Alcohol Management) card before getting hired. If you plan to work in a casino or gaming establishment, you’re going to need what’s called a Sheriff’s Card as well. All these cards cost money so make sure you budget for them.

Vegas is Weird

In this transient city, you may have a new neighbor every six months. You can grocery shop and eat out 24/7. You’ll see celebrities in strange places. People get drunk all hours of the day. It’s a lot to take in, but, as a local, you’ll get used to it.

You’ll also see slot machines everywhere: at the store, at 7-11, at a carwash, the airport, etc. Now if only they would install them at the DMV or local dentists offices to make those visits more tolerable…

It’s a Great Place to Raise a Family

Vegas gets a lot of flack for being a place that isn’t family- or kid-friendly. It also gets a lot of heat for having a subpar school system. As of 2016, Nevada ranked second-to-last for its education system.

This doesn’t mean that every school in the city is terrible, however. Research neighborhoods and see where there are adequate public, charter, or private schools to fit the needs of your family. West Career & Technical Academy, located in Summerlin, is considered by many to be one of the best schools in America. The Carolyn S. Reedom Elementary School in Mountains Edge also gets high praise. 

Also, once you move here, you’ll see that there are tons of family-friendly places to shop, eat, hike, watch movies, go to church, ride bikes, and more. It’s a city just like any other city, with the good, the bad, and plenty of options.

Vegas Has Some Strange Creatures

And we aren’t talking about the people. Vegas has an insane amount of roaches, water bugs, scorpions, tarantulas, tarantula hawks, and many other curious creatures. This is especially true in the summer and around construction areas. The second you buy a house, find a pest control company, hire them immediately, put them on speed dial, and get the bug situation under control. 

Everyone Will be Your Friend When You Move Here

Get ready. Once you live here, you will have people hitting you up all the time for free hookups and a place to stay. That includes people you haven’t talked to in ages. They’re looking at $150/night hotel rooms and thinking it’d be way cheaper to just crash on your couch. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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