Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Las Vegas?

Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.

Which has lower taxes, Boise or Las Vegas?

Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Boise vs Las Vegas Cost of Living 2026

Boise

Idaho

$1,260/mo est.

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Boise, ID versus $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV. Overall, Boise, ID is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,308 in Boise, ID and $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV — about 13% higher in Boise, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Boise, ID

Las Vegas, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,021

$992

+3% in Boise, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,133

$1,181

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,342

$1,401

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,749

$1,740

+1% in Boise, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$456,000

$395,300

+13% in Boise, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$81,308

$70,723

+13% in Boise, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$46,670

+5% in Boise, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

38.5 yr

+0.3 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

63.0%

55.7%

+7.3 pp in Boise, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.6%

27.3%

+19.3 pp in Boise, ID

Avg Commute

19.1 min

25.8 min

+6.7 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

301

433.3

+44% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

1,135.1

2,642.1

+133% in Las Vegas, NV

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

68.4°F

+15.9°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

5.4 in

+6.4 in in Boise, ID

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.29/gal

$5.09/gal

+19% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs RTC (residential routes) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

12.3

13.6

+10% in Las Vegas, NV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.82

$12.09

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

None

+5.3 pp in ID

Boise vs Las Vegas — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boise or Las Vegas?: Boise, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boise than in Las Vegas?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Boise versus $47,000 in Las Vegas.
Which has lower taxes, Boise or Las Vegas?: Boise is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Las Vegas under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).