Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Milwaukee?

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

Las Vegas vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$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 Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI 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 $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 27% higher in Las Vegas, NV. 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

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$992

$841

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$849

+28% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,031

+26% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,193

+31% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$172,000

+56% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$51,888

+27% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$51,160

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

32.2 yr

+6.3 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

41.5%

+14.2 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

26.6%

+0.7 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Avg Commute

25.8 min

22.4 min

+3.4 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.1

1,452.3

+235% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

2,641.7

2,772.2

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

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

47.9°F

+20.5°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

34.8 in

+29.4 in in Milwaukee, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.35/gal

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.25

+13% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.2

18.8

+33% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.04

$9.48

+6% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.14

+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.79

+15% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$3.63

+61% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.97

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$2.15

+1% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.63

+15% 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 Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI 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 Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Milwaukee?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Milwaukee 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).