Las Vegas is about 8% less expensive than Memphis overall - $100,000 in Memphis is worth about $91,981 in Las Vegas.
The housing gap between Las Vegas and Memphis is the headline story. A median home in Las Vegas costs $395,300 compared to $157,100 in Memphis - a 60% difference that shapes everything from your down-payment timeline to your commute radius. For first-time buyers, that translates to a $39,530 down payment in Las Vegas versus $15,710 in Memphis.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Las Vegas costs $1,456/month versus $1,123/month in Memphis. But income matters too: the median household in Las Vegas earns $70,723 and in Memphis earns $51,211. That means rent swallows about 24.7% of median income in Las Vegas and 26.3% in Memphis.
Both cities are similarly sized metros - Las Vegas has 650,873 people and Memphis has 629,063. That means comparable access to jobs, airports, and cultural amenities without the extremes of a mega-city.
Monthly cost breakdown: Las Vegas vs Memphis
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 | Las Vegas (rent) | Memphis (rent) | Las Vegas (own) | Memphis (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,456 | $1,123 | $2,296 | $912 |
| Transportation | $969 | $645 | $969 | $645 |
| Food | $762 | $507 | $762 | $507 |
| Healthcare | $478 | $319 | $478 | $319 |
| Other | $1,701 | $1,133 | $1,701 | $1,133 |
| Total | $5,366 | $3,727 | $6,206 | $3,517 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Las Vegas is roughly $17,472 per year in rent alone - $3,996 more than in Memphis. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $91,981 in Las Vegas to match $100,000 in Memphis.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $39,530 in Las Vegas versus $15,710 in Memphis. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $1,383. Over five years, that’s $83,001 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Memphis is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Memphis has the purchasing power of about $130,461 in Las Vegas. 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 Las Vegas earns roughly $106,084 and in Memphis earns $76,816. 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 Las Vegas, that answer is harder.
Las Vegas vs Memphis: the numbers
| Metric | Las Vegas | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 100 | 92 | -8% |
| Median rent | $1,456 | $1,123 | -23% |
| Median home value | $395,300 | $157,100 | -60% |
| Median household income | $70,723 | $51,211 | -28% |
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 Las Vegas has the same buying power as about $91,981 in Memphis. Going the other way, $100,000 in Memphis is like $108,718 in Las Vegas.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Las Vegas and Memphis.
Job market snapshot: Las Vegas vs Memphis
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Las Vegas | Memphis | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $95,220 | $132,720 | +39% |
| Software Developer | $121,830 | $113,500 | -7% |
| Physical Therapist | $103,830 | $100,220 | -3% |
| Data Scientist | $86,390 | $101,120 | +17% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $81,360 | $99,990 | +23% |
| Registered Nurse | $96,500 | $77,290 | -20% |
Moving from Las Vegas to Memphis: 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. Las Vegas and Memphis 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 Memphis.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.