City comparison
Las Vegas, NV vs Reno, NV
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Las Vegas, NV (100.2) and Reno, NV (101.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Las Vegas, NV goes as far as $100,800 in Reno, NV.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,478 a month in Las Vegas, NV and $1,489 in Reno, NV.
- Both are in NV, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.7% moving from Las Vegas, NV to Reno, NV ($108,719 → $106,855), while prices change by +0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Las Vegas, NV: price level 100.2 (about average)
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.2 | 101.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,797 in Reno | $99,209 in Las Vegas |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,478/mo | $1,489/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $0 (NV) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,670 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | Reno-Fernley, NV |
Rent areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV MSA and Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV and Reno, NV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Las Vegas | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 115.5 | 123.5 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 90.6 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.7 |
| Overall | 100.2 | 101.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Las Vegas, NV → Reno, NV
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 Fair offer
Reno, NV → Las Vegas, NV
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Las Vegas, NV is in the Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ pay area; Reno, NV is in Reno-Fernley, NV. The last column shows what a transfer from Las Vegas, NV to Reno, NV at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Real change, Las Vegas → Reno |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,046 | $61,965 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,280 | $74,972 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,427 | $89,859 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,719 | $106,855 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,473 | $126,271 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Las Vegas, NV | Reno, NV | Reno pay in Las Vegas dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $65,040 | $62,430 | $61,936 (−4.8%) |
| Software Developers | $129,940 | $125,710 | $124,716 (−4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,530 | $82,370 | $81,718 (+1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,940 | $107,520 | $106,670 (+2.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.