Phoenix vs Las Vegas
Phoenix, AZ · Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is 3% cheaper than Phoenix overall.
Home Price
Phoenix: $420,000
Las: $415,000
Monthly Rent
Phoenix: $1,150/mo
Las: $1,068/mo
COL Index
Phoenix: 106
Las: 103
Median Income
Phoenix: $67,600
Las: $62,600
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Phoenix has the same purchasing power as $97,170 in Las Vegas — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Las Vegas cost 1% more (-$5,000 extra). Expect a larger mortgage and down payment.
Renting
Renting in Las Vegas saves you $82/month — $984 per year. Median rent: $1,150/mo in Phoenix vs $1,068/mo in Las Vegas.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Phoenix owners pay roughly $2,604/year in property taxes vs $2,490/year in Las Vegas. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $67,600 in Phoenix and $62,600 in Las Vegas. Las Vegas residents earn 7% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 26 minutes in Phoenix vs 25 minutes in Las Vegas. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Phoenix to Las Vegas, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Phoenix | Equivalent in Las Vegas | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,585 | -$1,415 |
| $75,000 | $72,877 | -$2,123 |
| $100,000 | $97,170 | -$2,830 |
| $150,000 | $145,755 | -$4,245 |
| $200,000 | $194,340 | -$5,660 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Phoenix Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Phoenix vs Las Vegas: Common Questions
Is Phoenix or Las Vegas cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Las Vegas is cheaper overall. Phoenix has a COL index of 106 while Las Vegas scores 103 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Phoenix and Las Vegas?
The median home price in Phoenix is $420,000 vs $415,000 in Las Vegas — a difference of $5,000 (1%).
What salary do I need in Las Vegas to match my Phoenix income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $97,170 in Las Vegas in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Las Vegas has a lower property tax rate (0.6% vs 0.62%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,490/year vs $2,604/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.