What is the cost-of-living index for Las Vegas?

Las Vegas sits at a composite index of about 99, just below the US national average of 100. That makes it roughly average overall, with housing slightly above and other categories near or below the norm.

How does the index work?

The national average is set to 100. A city at 99 costs about 1% less than average; a city at 120 costs 20% more. To compare two cities, divide the destination index by the origin index and multiply your budget.

Which category is most expensive in Las Vegas?

Housing is the swing factor. Las Vegas housing runs modestly above the national average, while groceries, transportation, utilities, and healthcare typically sit at or below 100, pulling the composite to about 99.

Is Las Vegas cheaper than California cities?

Generally yes. Compared with a city indexed at 140 or higher, Las Vegas's index near 99 means a substantially smaller budget for the same lifestyle, which is a major reason many residents relocate from California.

Does the index include Nevada's lack of income tax?

Cost-of-living indices measure spending on goods and services, not taxes. Nevada having no state income tax is a separate take-home advantage on top of the roughly average cost of living the index shows.

Las Vegas Cost-of-Living Index

Las Vegas lands at a composite cost-of-living index of about 99, essentially at the US national average of 100. This tool benchmarks the major spending categories against that average and converts a budget from any other city into the equivalent monthly spending you would need in Las Vegas.

How it works

Indices are normalised so the US average equals 100. Converting between two cities is a simple ratio:

equivalent budget = current budget × (Las Vegas index / your city index)
relative cost     = (Las Vegas index / your city index − 1) × 100%

A composite index blends weighted categories. Las Vegas’s roughly average 99 comes from housing a little above 100 offset by groceries, transport, utilities, and healthcare at or below it.

Example and tips

If you spend $4,000/month in a city indexed at 130, the Las Vegas equivalent is about $4,000 × 99 / 130 ≈ $3,046 — roughly a 24% drop for the same lifestyle. Remember the index measures prices, not taxes: Nevada’s lack of a state income tax is an extra take-home benefit on top of the cost difference, and your personal mix of rent versus owning will shift the housing weight.