Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV versus $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Las Vegas, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 1% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$992
$851
+14% in Las Vegas, NV
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$879
+26% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,070
+24% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$1,379
+21% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$248,200
+37% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$69,991
+1% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$49,800
+7% in Lincoln, NE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
33.4 yr
+5.1 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
55.8%
+0.1 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
41.0%
+13.7 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
25.8 min
18.3 min
+7.5 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.3
363.1
+16% in Las Vegas, NV
Property Crime
2,642.1
2,484.4
+6% 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
68.4°F
51.5°F
+16.9°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
30.9 in
+25.5 in in Lincoln, NE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.94/gal
+23% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
13.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.09
$15.53
+28% in Lincoln, NE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Las Vegas, NV
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in Las Vegas, NV
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Lincoln, NE
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / NE)
6.85%
5.5%
+1.3 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.55%
+4.5 pp in NE

Las Vegas vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Las Vegas, NV's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Lincoln?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $35,000 in Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Lincoln?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).