Denver is about 5% less expensive than Las Vegas overall - $100,000 in Las Vegas is worth about $94,737 in Denver.
Housing costs separate Denver and Las Vegas more than any other category. The median home in Denver runs $586,700 versus $395,300 in Las Vegas, a 33% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Denver costs $1,770/month versus $1,456/month in Las Vegas. But income matters too: the median household in Denver earns $91,681 and in Las Vegas earns $70,723. That means rent swallows about 23.2% of median income in Denver and 24.7% in Las Vegas.
Both cities are similarly sized metros - Denver has 713,734 people and Las Vegas has 650,873. That means comparable access to jobs, airports, and cultural amenities without the extremes of a mega-city.
Monthly cost breakdown: Denver vs Las Vegas
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Denver (rent) | Las Vegas (rent) | Denver (own) | Las Vegas (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,770 | $1,456 | $3,407 | $2,296 |
| Transportation | $1,325 | $969 | $1,325 | $969 |
| Food | $1,043 | $762 | $1,043 | $762 |
| Healthcare | $655 | $478 | $655 | $478 |
| Other | $2,328 | $1,701 | $2,328 | $1,701 |
| Total | $7,120 | $5,366 | $8,757 | $6,206 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Denver is roughly $21,240 per year in rent alone - $3,768 more than in Las Vegas. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $94,737 in Denver to match $100,000 in Las Vegas.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $58,670 in Denver versus $39,530 in Las Vegas. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $1,112. Over five years, that’s $66,693 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Las Vegas is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Las Vegas has the purchasing power of about $126,666 in Denver. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Denver earns roughly $137,522 and in Las Vegas earns $106,084. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Denver, that answer is harder.
Denver vs Las Vegas: the numbers
| Metric | Denver | Las Vegas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 106 | 100 | -5% |
| Median rent | $1,770 | $1,456 | -18% |
| Median home value | $586,700 | $395,300 | -33% |
| Median household income | $91,681 | $70,723 | -23% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Denver has the same buying power as about $94,737 in Las Vegas. Going the other way, $100,000 in Las Vegas is like $105,555 in Denver.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Denver and Las Vegas.
Job market snapshot: Denver vs Las Vegas
Highest-paying roles with available data - median salary, not average, to avoid skew from senior outliers.
| Role | Denver | Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $170,110 | $95,220 |
| Software Developer | - | $121,830 |
| Physical Therapist | - | $103,830 |
| Data Scientist | $111,750 | $86,390 |
| Registered Nurse | - | $96,500 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,390 | - |
| Police Officer | $100,790 | - |
Moving from Denver to Las Vegas: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Denver and Las Vegas are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Las Vegas.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.