Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or New Haven?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or New Haven?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 24% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,159

+17% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,275

+8% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,473

+5% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,636

+6% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$249,000

+37% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$53,771

+24% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$60,060

+29% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

31.9 yr

+6.6 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

28.4%

+27.3 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

37.7%

+10.4 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

25.8 min

21.0 min

+4.8 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

536.3

+24% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

2,642.1

3,601.6

+36% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+16.2°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

47.1 in

+41.7 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

24.3

+86% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$23.33

+69% in New Haven, CT

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

$1.92

+6% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / CT)

6.85%

6.35%

+0.5 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Las Vegas vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or New Haven?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or New Haven?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).