Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$1,990/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 $1,990 in New York City, NY. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 11% higher in New York City, NY. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,633
+65% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,705
+44% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,781
+27% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$2,065
+19% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$751,700
+90% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$79,713
+13% in New York City, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$61,430
+32% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
38.0 yr
+0.5 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
32.8%
+22.9 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
41.0%
+13.7 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
25.8 min
40.6 min
+14.8 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.1
690.9
+60% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
2,641.7
2,413.5
+9% 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
55.0°F
+13.4°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
49.9 in
+44.6 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$4.44/gal
+20% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$3.00
+50% in New York City, NY

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
28.6
+101% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.04
$18.90
+88% in New York City, NY

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
$1.92
+9% in Las Vegas, NV
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.90
+5% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.02
+5% in Las Vegas, NV
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.68
+9% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / NY)
6.85%
4%
+2.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
10.90%
+10.9 pp in NY

Las Vegas vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or New York City?
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below New York City, NY's $1,990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or New York City?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).