Moving to Las Vegas? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Las Vegas is a nightlife capital situated in the expansive Mojave Desert, surrounded by mountains in the State of Nevada. Known most commonly for the bustling night scene with entertainment and casinos in abundance, Las Vegas is flanked by rugged and dramatic terrain, with plenty of mountains and deserts to explore.

If you are considering moving to Las Vegas, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in ‘Sin City.’

Quick Las Vegas Facts:

Population: 656,274 (2022). The Las Vegas metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.2 million.
Official Language: English (de facto) with many other languages being spoken, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, French Creole, Thai, Arabic, and German
Median Income: $35,216 USD (2022)
Howard Hughes: Howard Hughes stayed at the Desert Inn in Vegas for so long that he was asked to leave – his solution was to buy the hotel.
Currency: US Dollar (US$). As of 2024, £1 = $1.30, €1 = $1.09, $1 CAD = $0.73, $1 AUD = $0.67

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Las Vegas

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from some of the largest cities in the US and around the world and shipping it to Vegas:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$2,500 - $3,000	$3,800 - $4,300
Berlin	$4,500 - $5,000	$6,800 - $7,300
Chongqing	$2,500 - $3,000	$3,800 - $4,300
Chicago	$1,600 - $1,900	$2,600 - $2,900
Delhi	$2,800 - $3,300	$4,200 - $4,700
Dubai	$3,800 - $4,300	$5,700 - $6,200
Houston	$1,700 - $2,000	$2,700 - $3,000
London	$3,800 - $4,300	$5,800 - $6,300
Los Angeles	$500 - $700	$800 - $1,000
Madrid	$4,000 - $4,500	$6,200 - $6,700
New York City	$1,800 - $2,100	$2,800 - $3,100
Paris	$4,300 - $4,800	$6,600 - $7,100
Phoenix	$1,200 - $1,500	$2,000 - $2,300
Rome	$4,100 - $4,600	$6,400 - $6,900
Shanghai	$2,500 - $3,000	$3,900 - $4,400
Sydney	$2,800 - $3,300	$4,300 - $4,800
Toronto	$1,900 - $2,200	$3,000 - $3,300
Vancouver	$1,700 - $2,000	$2,700 - $3,000
Vienna	$4,500 - $5,000	$6,800 - $7,300

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (July 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, iContainers, or SeaRates;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

You could also save money by comparing movers using the quote form below:

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2. Las Vegas Housing Costs

Property in Las Vegas is far more affordable than in many other cities around the globe.

Monthly Rental Prices in Las Vegas:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: $1,400+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $1,300+
3 bedroom flat in City Centre: $2,350+
3 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $2,000+

Las Vegas Home Purchase Prices:

Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $2,800+
Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: $2,800+

Las Vegas Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Las Vegas compare with other cities around the globe.

London is 40% more expensive
New York is 58.7% more expensive
Los Angeles is 58.7% more expensive
Toronto is 15.5% more expensive
Sydney is 26.9% more expensive
Paris is 6.3% more expensive
Dubai is 13.8% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: Sharing a house or a flat is a way to save on living expenses. You will probably have to share a bathroom but you will save at the end of the day. A cheaper option is to share a room. Have a look at the following site to find your perfect room or flatmate: RoomLaLa.
Different Areas – Different Prices: The choice of housing in Las Vegas is wide. The city is expanding at a great rate and new apartments, condos and houses are constantly appearing. If you are looking for open spaces and a rural environment, then Bunkerville is for you, with its multi-acre plots and ranch-style housing. Boulder City is very affordable and has spacious houses with enviable views. Summerlin South and Henderson are both affluent suburbs with lots of gated communities. Blue Diamond is a little gem with large ranch-style homes next to Spring Mountain Ranch State Park. Mesquite is where art lovers and golfers enjoy living. If you have lots of money to spare, then Queensbridge is the place to live and where society meets.

3. Las Vegas Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Las Vegas is one of the food capitals of the United States. It is renowned for its enormous selection of restaurants, from burger joints to fine dining.

Inexpensive Restaurant: $18.00 – $20.00
Takeout Coffee: $5.40 – $6.00
Bottle of Coke: $2.30 – $2.50
1L of Milk: $1.00 – $1.20
Loaf of Bread: $3.50 – $4.00
12 Eggs: $4.99 – $5.00
1kg Chicken: $10.20 – $12.0
1kg Beef: $13.40 – $14.00
1kg Apples: $4.60 – $5.00
1kg White Rice: $4.50 – $5.00

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

London restaurants are 10.9% more expensive and groceries are 18.9% cheaper than Las Vegas.
New York restaurants are 27.6% more expensive and groceries are 32.4% more expensive than Las Vegas.
Los Angeles restaurants are 8.24% more expensive and groceries are 21.52% more expensive than Las Vegas.
Toronto restaurants are 3.5% more expensive and groceries are 1.2% more expensive than Las Vegas.
Sydney restaurants are 4.9% more expensive and groceries are 13.5% more expensive than Las Vegas.
Paris restaurants are 0.1% more expensive and groceries are 11.6% more expensive than Las Vegas.
Dubai restaurants are 1.6% cheaper and groceries are 38.1% cheaper than Las Vegas.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Las Vegas has a number of independently owned grocery stores as well as the usual supermarket chains. There are also lots of farmers’ markets which sell excellent local produce and shops which sell health foods and organic foods. Popular supermarkets are Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts Farmers Market.
Find Cheap Eats: With a little bit of effort you can find places which offer excellent food at affordable prices. Have a look at Huffington Post, Thrillist, The Guardian and 10Best.

4. Las Vegas Alcohol Costs

Las Vegas has so many bars and restaurants that you will be spoilt for choice. You can choose from dive bars or sophisticated cocktail lounges and anything in between.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $5.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $7.50
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $2.30
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $2.60
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $13.50

How To Drink For Less in Las Vegas:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials.
Eating out and going for drinks is part of Vegas. Explore and enjoy what’s on offer. Have a look at the following sites to see which venue suits you – Trip Advisor, Four Square, Blog.Vegas and Yelp.

5. Las Vegas Transportation Fares

Las Vegas has various types of public transportation including the monorail, buses, resort shuttle services and complimentary trams. The various forms of transport are known for their efficiency.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – $2.50
One day ticket – $5.00
Monthly season ticket, unlimited – $62.49

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a 7-day pass for $20
Buy a 15 Day Pass and get unlimited travel for $32
Buy a bike. Depending on where you live and work, cycling around the city is an option.
Walk. If you live relatively close to where you work, you can walk to work.

6. Cost of Internet in Las Vegas

Internet prices in the States are expensive compared with many other countries in the world. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Sprint: $50 a month (Unlimited high speed except for streaming gaming up to 8mb)
AT & T: $20 a month (50mb fibre)
Verizon: $80 a month

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

The hottest month in Vegas in July, when the average temperature is 34°C. December is the coldest month with an average temperature of 8°C. As Las Vegas sits in the desert, it obviously doesn’t get much rain. Its wettest month is August with an average rainfall of 14mm.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: $50
Summer Dress: $35
Running Shoes (Trainers): $70
Business Shoes: $100
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): $75
Deodorant: $3.50
Shampoo: $5.00
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $3.00
Gym Membership: $25 – $40 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: $12.99

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Las Vegas

Everyone in the US drives on the right. Many people use their cars for work in Las Vegas and, even though the traffic can be heavy during rush hour, it is nowhere near as bad as many major cities in the world

If you’re moving to Las Vegas from within the US, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new one.

You can drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months as a tourist but after that, you will need to get an American license. If you are working or studying in the US, you can drive on your foreign license for 30 days. If you want to exchange your foreign driver’s license you have to follow the process here.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Las Vegas:

Volkswagen Golf: $26,000+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): $1.21
Other Fees (if any): the average cost of state and local taxes, license, title and registration fees is $665 per annum

Source: Expatistan, AAA Study

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Las Vegas:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Car Pool World, Craigslist and Carpling.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber or Lyft.

9. Taxes in Las Vegas

No matter where you live in the State, you will pay federal tax. To learn more about the different taxes in the States go to Immihelp and USA taxes.

Sales Tax in Las Vegas is 8.25% and is added to most goods and services. Generally, the price you see on an item does not include sales tax.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to property tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about property tax in Las Vegas at Property Tax.

10. Flight Costs from Las Vegas

If you do make the move to Las Vegas, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

London: $275
New York: $75
Los Angeles: $24
Toronto: $76
Vancouver: $86
Dubai: $372
Sydney: $440
Melbourne: $365
Cape Town: $595
Hong Kong: $550

Other Tips on Moving to Las Vegas:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Las Vegas but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Las Vegas Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be especially daunting. Here are a few tips about settling in Las Vegas.

Meetups: There are many Meetup groups to choose from. You will definitely find something to join which will help you to settle in. Perhaps the Vegas Hikers, the Las Vegas Dragon Boat Club or the Riders of Nevada appeal to you.
Attend Local Events: Las Vegas has a lot to offer everyone who visits or lives there, especially if you look beyond the Strip. Have a look at Tripadvisor, Timeout, Thrillist, Travel and Leisure and Vegas.com.

12. Moving to Las Vegas with a Family

Las Vegas has a lot to offer families. It’s a vibrant city with lots of outdoor activities within easy reach.

New Parents (or parents to be): There are free and paid antenatal classes and courses. Have a look at Well Rounded Momma and Summerlin Hospital.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Boulder City is one of the quiet areas of Vegas with spacious houses, parks, a lake, good schools and plenty of amenities. Summerlin South is close to downtown Vegas but is a quiet neighbourhood with family-style homes and excellent schools. Most of the areas in Las Vegas are suitable for families, the choice depends on the price tag.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: Kids will enjoy everything that Las Vegas and the surrounding area have on offer. Have a look at the following sites to be inspired – Las Vegas Kids, 10Best, Vegas.com and Flashpacker Family.

13. Moving to Las Vegas for Work

People move to Las Vegas for a variety of reasons. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move. The unemployment rate in Las Vegas is 5.1%. One of the top employers in Las Vegas is, not surprisingly, the tourism and gaming industry. The education sector and Clark County are also major employers in Las Vegas.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: Salaries vary enormously depending on which industry you are in.The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile.You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Las Vegas, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Monster, Indeed, Snagajob and Career Builder. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Las Vegas from Australia

There are a number of Australians living in Las Vegas, if you are thinking of joining them, here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Las Vegas with a city in Australia, then the closest would be the Gold Coast.
Join Expat Groups: There are a number of expat groups enabling you to meet fellow Aussies. Try Internations and Meetup.

15. Moving to Las Vegas from Canada

There’s a large group of Canadians living in Las Vegas. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you compare the size of the population of Las Vegas with a city of the same size in Canada, you’d be looking at a city slightly smaller than Hamilton.
Expat Groups: Meeting up with fellow Canadians helps the moving process. Link up through sites such as Internations and Meetup.

16. Moving to Las Vegas from the United Kingdom

There’s a fair number of Brits living and working in Las Vegas. If you are thinking of making the move from the UK to join them, then here are a few things to consider.

Size Comparison: If you look at the population size of Las Vegas and compare it with a city of the same size in the UK, you’d be looking at Leeds.
Expat Groups: If you want to get together with others from the UK who are experiencing the sun and surf, then go to Internations and Meetup.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Las Vega you can start by comparing moving quotes here.