Is Las Vegas expensive to live in?

Las Vegas is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,181 per month ranks #30 of 50 and is about the same as the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Las Vegas?

Average rent in Las Vegas, NV runs a studio around $992, a one-bedroom around $1,181, a two-bedroom around $1,401, a three-bedroom around $1,740 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,181 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $70,723.

How much does it cost to live in Las Vegas per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Las Vegas is about $1,320 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Aerial view of cityscape at night — Las Vegas, NV

Cost of Living in Las Vegas, NV

Population 641,903 · Nevada

~$1,320/mo est.1BR $1,181Home $395,300

Photo: Fallon Michael / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Las Vegas, NV is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,181 a month — about the same as the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $992 and two-bedrooms $1,401.

Median household income here is $70,723, 7% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,320 before food and transport. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,181

Studio

$992

1 Bedroom

$1,181

2 Bedroom

$1,401

3 Bedroom

$1,740

Buying a Home$395,300

Median Home Value

$395,300

Income$70,723

Median Household Income

$70,723

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesWest

Milk (gal)

$4.37

Bread (lb)

$2.10

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

Average prices, West (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.2¢/kWh

Electricity

14.2¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$10.04/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$5.57/gal

Regular Gasoline (West Coast (PADD 5))

$5.57/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.00

Base Fare (RTC (residential routes))

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (NV)6.85% sales

State Sales Tax

6.85%

State Income Tax (top rate)

None

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime433.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

433.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,641.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 38.5 yrs

Median Age

38.5 yrs

Homeownership

55.7%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

Avg Commute

25.8 min

Climate68.4°F

Avg Annual Temperature

68.4°F

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

Las Vegas cost of living — FAQ

Is Las Vegas expensive to live in?: Las Vegas is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,181 per month ranks #30 of 50 and is about the same as the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Las Vegas?: Average rent in Las Vegas, NV runs a studio around $992, a one-bedroom around $1,181, a two-bedroom around $1,401, a three-bedroom around $1,740 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,181 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year. The median household income here is $70,723.
How much does it cost to live in Las Vegas per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Las Vegas is about $1,320 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Las Vegas with nearby cities

Las Vegas vs Bakersfield Las Vegas vs Anaheim Las Vegas vs Santa Ana Las Vegas vs Los Angeles Las Vegas vs Long Beach Las Vegas vs Phoenix

Nearby cities

Bakersfield, CA 224 mi Anaheim, CA 225 mi Santa Ana, CA 228 mi Los Angeles, CA 228 mi Long Beach, CA 240 mi Phoenix, AZ 256 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.