Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/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 $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 1% 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 $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 6% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,116
+13% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,030
+13% in Las Vegas, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,323
+6% in Las Vegas, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$1,627
+6% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$322,800
+18% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$66,772
+6% in Las Vegas, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$53,680
+15% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
32.9 yr
+5.6 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
41.2%
+14.5 pp in Las Vegas, NV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
34.7%
+7.4 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
25.8 min
25.0 min
+0.8 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.3
282.4
+35% in Las Vegas, NV
Property Crime
2,642.1
1,665.6
+37% 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
51.6°F
+16.8°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
47.2 in
+41.8 in in Providence, RI

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
29.5
+117% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.09
$16.06
+33% in Providence, RI

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
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Las Vegas, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Providence, RI
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 / RI)
6.85%
7%
+0.2 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.99%
+6.0 pp in RI

Las Vegas vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Providence?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% 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 Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Providence?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).