Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Naperville?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Naperville?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,830/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 $1,830 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 53% higher in Naperville, IL. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,713

+73% in Naperville, IL

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,594

+35% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,889

+35% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$2,446

+41% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$509,900

+29% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$150,937

+113% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$54,720

+17% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

40.1 yr

+1.6 yr in Naperville, IL

Homeownership

55.7%

74.3%

+18.6 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

71.7%

+44.4 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

25.8 min

31.4 min

+5.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

85.7

+80% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,642.1

892.2

+66% 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

49.9°F

+18.5°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

36.9 in

+31.5 in in Naperville, IL

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

23.9

+75% in Naperville, IL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$15.39

+27% in Naperville, IL

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 Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Naperville, IL

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 / IL)

6.85%

6.25%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.95%

+5.0 pp in IL

Las Vegas vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Naperville?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Naperville, IL's $1,830, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Naperville?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).