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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Nevada using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Las Vegas comes o…
#1 Ranked: Las Vegas — cost index 99, rent $1,695/mo, income $70,723
0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Nevada using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Las Vegas comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The #1 spot goes to Las Vegas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,695/month — saving renters $2,400 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 99, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Healthcare at 100. A 29% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
Bottom line: Las Vegas leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Las Vegas | 0% | 8.23% | 0.48% | $32,372 |
2Henderson | 0% | 8.23% | 0.48% | $32,372 |
3North Las Vegas | 0% | 8.23% | 0.48% | $32,372 |
4Reno | 0% | 8.23% | 0.48% | $32,372 |
5Sparks | 0% | 8.23% | 0.48% | $32,372 |
660,929 residents · Nevada
Why Las Vegas ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 99 on the cost index, residents save roughly 12% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,695/month while the median household pulls in $70,723/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 99, though Healthcare (100) lags behind. Home prices average $422,842 — $44,528 below the national median.
337,305 residents · Nevada
The #2 spot goes to Henderson, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,772/month — saving renters $1,476 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Healthcare is the standout at index 101, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 103. At a 24% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
284,771 residents · Nevada
Here's North Las Vegas by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And in practical terms, cost index: 106. Rent: $1,819/month. Income: $76,772/year. Home price: $404,089. Population: 284,771. The strongest category is Healthcare at 101; the most expensive is Housing at 106. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $912 per year vs. the national median. At this level, the city practically pays for your move.
274,915 residents · Nevada
Dive into Reno's numbers: cost index 107 (4 points below national average), rent $1,830/month, income $78,448, and a home price of $559,591. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 101, while Housing runs 107. With 274,915 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
110,323 residents · Nevada
Sparks earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 115 cost index sits 4 points above the national baseline, and the $86,979 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $523,431 — $56,061 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Healthcare leads the way at 103, while Housing trails at 115.
Las Vegas ranks #1 in Nevada for this analysis with a cost index of 99 and median income of $70,723.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Las Vegas, rent would consume about 51% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Las Vegas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,695/mo, while Sparks (ranked #5) has a cost index of 115 and rent of $1,967/mo — a 16-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Las Vegas is $1,695/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $200 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 0% state income tax, estimated take-home on $40K in Las Vegas is approximately $32,372/year ($2,698/month). After median rent of $1,695/month, you'd have roughly $12,032/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Las Vegas is $422,842, which is 6.0× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Nevada has a 0% state income tax rate — one of the states with no income tax. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.23%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.48%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.