Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% 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 Pittsburgh?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Pittsburgh?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 2% 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 $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 9% 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

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,109

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,079

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,269

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,450

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$193,200

+51% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$64,137

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$49,650

+6% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

33.5 yr

+5.0 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

47.2%

+8.5 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

47.8%

+20.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

25.8 min

23.1 min

+2.7 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

436

+1% in Pittsburgh, PA

Property Crime

2,642.1

2,315.7

+12% 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

51.8°F

+16.6°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

39.3 in

+33.9 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/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)

13.6

21.6

+58% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$12.09

$19.17

+59% in Pittsburgh, PA

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 Pittsburgh, PA

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 / PA)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Las Vegas vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% 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 Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Pittsburgh?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Pittsburgh 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).