Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Worcester?

Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Worcester?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 4% higher in Las Vegas, NV. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,087

+10% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,028

+13% in Las Vegas, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,476

+5% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,675

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$339,500

+14% in Las Vegas, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$67,544

+4% in Las Vegas, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$57,830

+24% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

34.1 yr

+4.4 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

42.4%

+13.3 pp in Las Vegas, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

34.1%

+6.8 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

25.8 min

25.1 min

+0.7 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

640.2

+48% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

2,642.1

1,580.3

+40% 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

47.9°F

+20.5°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

48.1 in

+42.7 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.07/gal

+22% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

29.6

+126% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$30.66

+122% in Worcester, MA

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 Worcester, MA

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 / MA)

6.85%

6.25%

+0.6 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

9.00%

+9.0 pp in MA

Las Vegas vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Worcester?: Las Vegas, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Las Vegas than in Worcester?: 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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Worcester?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).