CostIndexUSA

Chicago, IL vs Las Vegas, NV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Chicago
103.6
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableNV
Las Vegas
100.2
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Las Vegas is slightly cheaper than Chicago — 3.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chicago, you would need $77,400 in Las Vegas. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+3.1%
Chicago
112
Las Vegas
115.5
🛒 Groceries10.3%
Chicago
107.3
Las Vegas
96.3
🚗 Transportation1.7%
Chicago
105.5
Las Vegas
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Chicago
95.5
Las Vegas
93.8
Utilities+8.4%
Chicago
83.6
Las Vegas
90.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Chicago to see what you'd need to earn in Las Vegas to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Las Vegas, NV
$77,400
$2,600 less needed in Las Vegas

Formula: salary × (100.2 ÷ 103.6) = salary × 0.9672. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$334,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
112
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Las Vegas, NV

Median Home Price
$426,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
115.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.6×

Las Vegas has 3.1% higher housing costs compared to Chicago.

Income & Job Market

Chicago, IL

Median Household Income
$87,100
Per Capita Income
$49,600
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
2,693,976
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyRetail

Las Vegas, NV

Median Household Income
$75,100
Per Capita Income
$42,800
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
641,903
Top Industries
TourismGamingHealthcareConstructionRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Chicago, IL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Las Vegas, NV
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.