Las Vegas, NV Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Las Vegas, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Las Vegas →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Las Vegas is a city of roughly 644,835 in Nevada. The median household there earns $66,356 annually, which runs roughly in line with the multi-city median income (-8%).
The typical home in Las Vegas is worth $365,300, above the multi-city median (+12%), while the typical renter pays $1,356 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
Buying a typical home in Las Vegas would take about 5.5 years of median household income — a high multiple that points to real affordability pressure. The local market has seen 1.63% price growth over the past year — solid, sustainable movement rather than a rapid runup. Natural-hazard exposure in Las Vegas is rated Very High by FEMA, on the elevated end — something to check with insurers before buying.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,356/mo in Las Vegas would take 24.5% of your income.
$303/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($365,300) would take 35.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$402/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Las Vegas
Median home value is $365,300 and median gross rent is $1,356/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Clark rose 1.63% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,735/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Las Vegas's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Las Vegas reported a violent crime rate of 412.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Las Vegas
Planning a move to Las Vegas? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Cost estimates for moving between Las Vegas and nearby popular destinations:
- Moving from Las Vegas to Phoenix
- Moving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles
- Moving from Las Vegas to San Francisco
- Moving from Las Vegas to San Jose
- Moving from Las Vegas to San Diego
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Las Vegas, NV?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Las Vegas's median home value at $365,300, median rent at $1,356/month, and median household income at $66,356.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Las Vegas?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Las Vegas, where median rent runs $1,356/month, you'd want to earn about $54,240 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Las Vegas.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Las Vegas?
- Buying at Las Vegas's median home value of $365,300 takes about $83,579 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $54,240 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,356/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Las Vegas safe?
- FBI data puts Las Vegas's violent crime rate at 412.5 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Las Vegas →
Compare Las Vegas to similar cities
- Las Vegas vs Phoenix: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Las Vegas vs Los Angeles: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- San Francisco vs Las Vegas: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- San Jose vs Las Vegas: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- San Diego vs Las Vegas: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Las Vegas's.