Head to head
Las Vegas, NV vs Phoenix, AZ
Las Vegas is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $105/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $4,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Phoenix is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Las Vegas56 | Phoenix58 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,278 | $4,383 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $10,530 | $10,297 |
| Salary for comfort | $75,500/yr | $80,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,735 | $1,839 |
| Median home value | $395,300 | $381,900 |
| Median household income | $70,723 | $77,041 |
| Unemployment | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Housing score | 32 | 42 |
| Jobs score | 46 | 24 |
| Safety score | 17 | 45 |
| Climate score | 76 | 72 |
| Amenities score | 92 | 92 |
| Population | 650.9K | 1.6M |
| Summer high / winter low | 104° / 38° | 106° / 46° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Las Vegas, NV
Phoenix, AZ