Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 14% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,126
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,189
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,394
+0% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$1,406
+19% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$232,400
+41% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$60,698
+14% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$54,310
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
35.1 yr
+3.4 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
52.3%
+3.4 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
34.6%
+7.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
25.8 min
32.0 min
+6.2 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.1
916.8
+112% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,641.7
4,614.3
+75% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+11.3°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
48.5 in
+43.1 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.57/gal
$4.30/gal
+23% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.2
20.9
+48% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$10.04
$16.67
+66% in Philadelphia, PA

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 / PA)
6.85%
6%
+0.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
3.07%
+3.1 pp in PA

Las Vegas vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Philadelphia?
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Philadelphia?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).