Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Madison?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $49,000 in Madison.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Madison?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Madison Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Madison, WI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 8% higher in Madison, WI. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Madison, WI

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,018

+3% in Madison, WI

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,219

+3% in Madison, WI

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,432

+2% in Madison, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,766

+1% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$346,900

+12% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$76,983

+9% in Madison, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$58,080

+24% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

31.8 yr

+6.7 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

46.6%

+9.1 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

59.2%

+31.9 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

25.8 min

19.4 min

+6.4 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

259.5

+40% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,642.1

1,884.5

+29% 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

46.5°F

+21.9°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

34.5 in

+29.1 in in Madison, WI

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

19.7

+45% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$11.79

+2% in Las Vegas, NV

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 Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Madison, WI

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 / WI)

6.85%

+1.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

7.65%

+7.7 pp in WI

Las Vegas vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Madison?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Madison, WI's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Madison?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Madison?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).