Route comparison
San Diego, CA vs Las Vegas, NV: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between San Diego, CA and Las Vegas, NV. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
San Diego, CA
CA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 114.5
- Housing RPP
- 183.9
- Goods RPP
- 108.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,833/mo
California income tax 1%-13.3%. No city income tax.
Las Vegas, NV
NV
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 96.5
- Housing RPP
- 112.7
- Goods RPP
- 97
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,643/mo
Nevada has no state income tax. Popular destination from California.
Equivalent salary
Las Vegas, NV is cheaper than San Diego, CA by about 15.7% (RPP 114.5 to 96.5).
$60,000 in San Diego, CA
-> $50,568
in Las Vegas, NV
$100,000 in San Diego, CA
-> $84,279
in Las Vegas, NV
$150,000 in San Diego, CA
-> $126,419
in Las Vegas, NV
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: San Diego, CA vs Las Vegas, NV
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022San Diego, CA
- Net people
- −26,865
- Net rank
- #57 of 65
- Top origin share
- 9%
- Top destination share
- 11%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Riverside County, CA.
Las Vegas, NV
- Net people
- +11,229
- Net rank
- #14 of 65
- Top origin share
- 13%
- Top destination share
- 6%
Largest source: Los Angeles County, CA. Largest destination: Los Angeles County, CA.
Rent delta: Las Vegas, NV is $1,190/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than San Diego, CA. Housing RPP moves from 183.9 to 112.7.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Las Vegas, NV cheaper or more expensive than San Diego, CA?
- Las Vegas, NV (RPP 96.5) is cheaper than San Diego, CA (RPP 114.5) by about 15.7%.
- What salary do I need in Las Vegas, NV if I earn $100,000 in San Diego, CA?
- You would need approximately $84,279 in Las Vegas, NV to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in San Diego, CA. Formula: $100,000 x (96.5 / 114.5).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, San Diego, CA or Las Vegas, NV?
- For 2021-2022, San Diego, CA had a net loss of 26,865 people, while Las Vegas, NV had a net gain of 11,229 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.