Question 1

Is Detroit or Las Vegas cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $200/month less than in Las Vegas, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $1,735/mo in Las Vegas.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs Las Vegas?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $75,500/year in Las Vegas, NV — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or Las Vegas cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $10,530/month in Las Vegas, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or Las Vegas?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Detroit58	Las Vegas56
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$4,278
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$10,530
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$75,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$1,735
Median home value	$76,800	$395,300
Median household income	$39,575	$70,723
Unemployment	10.7%	5.2%
Housing score	61	32
Jobs score	36	46
Safety score	18	17
Climate score	79	76
Amenities score	82	92
Population	636.6K	650.9K
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	104° / 38°

Detroit, MI vs Las Vegas, NV