Median rent is 1% lower in Las Vegas ($1,563/mo vs $1,572/mo). Buying is cheaper in Raleigh, where the median home runs $415,800 versus $427,900. Households earn more in Raleigh ($85,395 vs $73,877 a year). Taken together, Las Vegas is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 98.3 against 98.4 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Raleigh, NC.
City A
Las Vegas, NV
City B
Raleigh, NC
How much would you need to earn in Raleigh, NC to maintain your standard of living from Las Vegas, NV?
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$75,053
You'd need $53 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
Las Vegas
Nevada
Raleigh
North Carolina
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 rents are similar in both cities: $1,563/mo in Las Vegas and $1,572/mo in Raleigh. Median home values are within 3% of each other: $427,900 in Las Vegas and $415,800 in Raleigh.
Metric
Las Vegas
Raleigh
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.
Las Vegas
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Raleigh
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Las Vegas has cleaner air on average: 36.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Raleigh if you prioritize higher median household income ($85,395/yr).
Pick Las Vegas if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 36.0).
Las Vegas is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.3 versus 98.4 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Las Vegas.
Median rent is $1,563/mo in Las Vegas, NV and $1,572/mo in Raleigh, NC. Las Vegas, NV has the lower rent by about 1%.
Median household income is $73,877 in Las Vegas, NV and $85,395 in Raleigh, NC. Raleigh, NC 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 47.0 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 Las Vegas, NV is equivalent to roughly $100,070 in Raleigh, NC (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
