Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Rutland?

Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% 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 Rutland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Rutland?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Rutland, VT is roughly 15% 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 $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 22% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$992

$893

+10% in Las Vegas, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$856

+28% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,097

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,207

+31% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$176,400

+55% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$55,000

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

48.5 yr

+10.0 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

55.7%

52.7%

+3.0 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

32.2%

+4.9 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

25.8 min

14.7 min

+11.1 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

487.8

+13% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

2,642.1

3,973.3

+50% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+23.8°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

40.5 in

+35.1 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/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)

13.1

24.4

+86% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$26.07

+89% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

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 / VT)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

8.75%

+8.8 pp in VT

Las Vegas vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Rutland?: Rutland, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% 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 Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Rutland?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).