Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Tampa?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Tampa?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$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 Tampa, FL. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 1% higher in Tampa, FL. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,242

+25% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,324

+12% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,673

+19% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,729

+1% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$375,300

+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$71,302

+1% in Tampa, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$48,940

+5% in Tampa, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

35.6 yr

+2.9 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

50.2%

+5.5 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

44.6%

+17.3 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

25.8 min

24.7 min

+1.1 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.1

443.4

+2% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

2,641.7

1,473.2

+44% 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

73.4°F

+5.0°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

46.3 in

+40.9 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.57/gal

$4.25/gal

+24% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.2

14.9

+5% in Tampa, FL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$10.04

$23.62

+135% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.37

$4.16

+5% in Las Vegas, NV

Bread (lb)

$2.10

$1.73

+18% in Las Vegas, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.25

$2.19

+3% in Las Vegas, NV

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.23

$6.56

+9% in Las Vegas, NV

Chicken (lb)

$2.14

$1.90

+11% in Las Vegas, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.74

$0.61

+17% in Las Vegas, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NV / FL)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

about equal

Las Vegas vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Tampa?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Tampa?: 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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Tampa?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).