Cost of Living in Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Las Vegas, NV to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Las Vegas, NV?
With a price level of 100.2 (U.S. average = 100), Las Vegas, NV is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 16% above average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 9% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Las Vegas, NV vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 100.2 | +0.2% |
| Housing | 115.5 | +15.5% |
| Goods | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Utilities | 90.6 | −9.4% |
| Other services | 98.7 | −1.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Las Vegas, NV
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,333 | $53,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,478 | $59,120/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,735 | $69,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,413 | $96,520/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,764 | $110,560/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Las Vegas, NV
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Las Vegas, NV | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $40,100 | $34,400 |
| $60,000 | $60,100 | $50,470 |
| $80,000 | $80,200 | $65,251 |
| $100,000 | $100,200 | $79,321 |
| $150,000 | $150,300 | $113,996 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Nevada 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Las Vegas, NV's median wage of $46,670 takes home about $3,307 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,478, which is 45% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,829 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Las Vegas, NV
- Federal income tax$3,420
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,894
- Medicare (1.45%)$677
- Nevada income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,679
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Las Vegas, NV
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Nevada cities
Half of Nevada’s 1,551,540 workers earn less than $47,660 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,150–$74,140 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Carson City, NV stretches a paycheck furthest, while Las Vegas, NV is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | $46,670 | 100.2 | $1,478 | 45% | $1,829 | $39,594 |
| Reno, NV | $49,660 | 101.0 | $1,444 | 41% | $2,063 | $41,659 |
| Carson City, NV | $56,680 | 98.1 | $1,212 | 30% | $2,765 | $48,632 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Las Vegas, NV vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 100.2 | $1,478 | $46,670 | 1,136,960 |
| San Jose, CA | 110.4 | $2,957 | $84,050 | 1,134,970 |
| San Antonio, TX | 94.7 | $1,171 | $47,010 | 1,126,880 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $1,179 | $51,340 | 1,105,580 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $1,242 | $49,340 | 1,105,170 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 95.4 | $1,043 | $50,170 | 1,101,030 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Las Vegas, NV expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area are 100.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 115.5%. It is the #86 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Las Vegas, NV?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $60,129 in Las Vegas, NV (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,670.
Can you afford Las Vegas, NV on the median wage?
A single worker on the $46,670 median wage takes home about $3,307 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,478 would take 45% of that.
How much is rent in Las Vegas, NV?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Las Vegas, NV are $1,333 for a studio, $1,478 for one bedroom, $1,735 for two bedrooms and $2,413 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Las Vegas, NV
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $166,090
- Financial Manager — $132,650
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $119,990
- Managers, All Other — $114,820
- Construction Manager — $112,570
- Marketing Manager — $106,090
- Sales Manager — $103,580
- General and Operations Manager — $97,290
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $99,940
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,530
- Management Analyst — $79,870
- Compliance Officer — $76,520
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $74,670
- Human Resources Specialist — $69,950
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $64,410
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $62,730
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $129,940
- Computer User Support Specialist — $53,780
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $61,480
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $150,510
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $66,720
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $66,300
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $65,520
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $65,040
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $30,810
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $24,960
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $103,940
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,920
- Pharmacy Technician — $47,590
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $46,890
- Nursing Assistant — $45,350
- Medical Assistant — $44,220
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,640
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $77,750
- Security Guard — $37,210
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,380
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $44,710
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,800
- Dishwasher — $35,630
- Cooks, Fast Food — $33,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $33,870
- Bartender — $33,750
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $32,950
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers — $51,460
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $48,140
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $39,310
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,920
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Gambling Services Workers — $67,320
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers — $30,110
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,940
- Childcare Worker — $29,670
- Gambling Dealer — $25,690
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $68,150
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,980
- Insurance Sales Agent — $47,470
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,500
- Retail Salesperson — $33,720
- Cashier — $29,360
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $62,530
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $49,960
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $48,300
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $47,430
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,750
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,040
- Office Clerks, General — $43,160
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $40,830
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $80,630
- Electrician — $70,890
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $63,910
- Carpenter — $62,380
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $59,700
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $57,360
- Construction Laborer — $48,230
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $77,370
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $60,240
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $51,910
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $49,640
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,650
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,350
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $36,560
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $59,810
- Flight Attendant — $51,800
- Taxi Driver — $44,800
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,660
- Light Truck Driver — $43,150
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,940
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,700