Living Cost Compare
Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 16% higher in Tacoma, WA. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV
Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio
$992
$1,178
+19% in Tacoma, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,332
+13% in Tacoma, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,401
$1,693
+21% in Tacoma, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,740
$2,094
+20% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$395,300
$454,600
+15% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$70,723
$83,857
+19% in Tacoma, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,670
$72,610
+56% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.5 yr
37.3 yr
+1.2 yr in Las Vegas, NV
Homeownership
55.7%
56.5%
+0.8 pp in Tacoma, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
27.3%
33.5%
+6.2 pp in Tacoma, WA
Avg Commute
25.8 min
29.0 min
+3.2 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
433.3
1,064.4
+146% in Tacoma, WA
Property Crime
2,642.1
5,695.2
+116% in Tacoma, WA

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
52.1°F
+16.3°F in Las Vegas, NV
Annual Precipitation
5.4 in
43.0 in
+37.7 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$5.12/gal
+1% in Tacoma, WA

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Washington.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.6
14.9
+10% in Tacoma, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.09
$20.41
+69% in Tacoma, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / WA)
6.85%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
None
None
about equal

Las Vegas vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Tacoma?
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Tacoma?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Tacoma?
Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).