Boston vs Las Vegas: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Boston, MA and Las Vegas, NV, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Boston, MA | Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 665,945 | 644,835 |
| Median household income | $89,212 | $66,356 |
| Median home value | $684,900 | $365,300 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,981 | $1,356 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Boston, MA and Las Vegas, NV comes down to what you value most. Las Vegas has the lower median home value, and Las Vegas has the lower median rent.
Boston has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Las Vegas?
- By median home value, Las Vegas is the cheaper of the two ($365,300 vs $684,900). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Boston or Las Vegas?
- Median household income is $89,212 in Boston versus $66,356 in Las Vegas, per the US Census Bureau.