Median rent is 10% lower in Las Vegas ($1,563/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Las Vegas, where the median home runs $427,900 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $73,877 a year). Taken together, Austin is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 98.3 against 98.3 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Austin, TX.
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Las Vegas, NV
How much would you need to earn in Las Vegas, NV to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Las Vegas, NV
$75,008
You'd need $8 more (0% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Las Vegas
Nevada
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Las Vegas at $1,563/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (10% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $555,300 versus $427,900 in Las Vegas — 23% more expensive.
Metric
Austin
Las Vegas
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Las Vegas
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Las Vegas has cleaner air on average: 36.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Las Vegas if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 36.0).
Austin is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.3 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Austin.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,563/mo in Las Vegas, NV. Las Vegas, NV has the lower rent by about 10%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $73,877 in Las Vegas, NV. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Las Vegas, NV has better air quality on average: 36.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $100,010 in Las Vegas, NV (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
