Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Portland?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $58,000 in Portland.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Portland?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

$1,600/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 $1,600 in Portland, OR. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 20% higher in Portland, OR. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,294

+30% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,440

+22% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,741

+24% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$2,053

+18% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$557,600

+41% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$88,792

+26% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$60,690

+30% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

38.6 yr

+0.1 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

55.7%

52.8%

+2.9 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

53.5%

+26.2 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

25.8 min

24.6 min

+1.2 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.1

731.7

+69% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

2,641.7

5,605.5

+112% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+13.9°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

42.9 in

+37.5 in in Portland, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

$2.80

+40% in Portland, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.2

14.9

+5% in Portland, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.04

$17.98

+79% in Portland, OR

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / OR)

6.85%

None

+6.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.90%

+9.9 pp in OR

Las Vegas vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Portland?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Portland, OR's $1,600, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Portland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $58,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Portland?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Portland under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).