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Mohamed Oun
Las Vegas
#20 of 124
North America

Las Vegas

NV, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Las Vegas compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Las Vegas is 19% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Las Vegas compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$121,000
-$152K (-56%) vs San Francisco
Based on 61 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$86,515
-$86K (-50%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 29%

Community Insights

New
6.8/10

Moving to Las Vegas as a software engineer is a strategic financial play, largely dependent on securing remote work. The local tech scene is underwhelming, often described as a "career dead end" with salaries lagging 30-50% behind national averages. However, for those with remote jobs, the combination of no state income tax and high purchasing power allows for a lavish lifestyle that would be impossible in the Bay Area or NYC. Life here is a tale of two cities: the chaotic energy of the Strip and the quiet, suburban sprawl of master-planned communities like Summerlin. While the outdoor lifestyle is top-tier for 8 months of the year, the brutal summers and poor social infrastructure (ranking low in education and healthcare) are major trade-offs.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Purchasing Power

Top 16%

#20

of 124 cities

Home Affordability

Top 19%

#24

of 124 cities

≈3.6 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Net Income

Top 25%

#31

of 124 cities

$86,515/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Las Vegas compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$3,853 / m²
61% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Las Vegas to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
38% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Las Vegas

Zappos.com logo
Zappos.com
MGM Resorts International logo
MGM Resorts International
Light & Wonder logo
Light & Wonder
Zero state income tax, offering massive savings for remote workers earning coastal salaries.
  • Low cost of living compared to major tech hubs like SF, LA, or NYC, with more affordable housing options in suburbs like Summerlin and Henderson.
  • World-class entertainment and dining scene, offering 24/7 access to shows, concerts, and celebrity chef restaurants.
  • Exceptional outdoor access for climbers and hikers, with Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Mt. Charleston nearby (and Zion/Grand Canyon within driving distance).
  • Excellent flight connectivity via Harry Reid International Airport, making travel for work or leisure extremely convenient.
  • Little to no traffic congestion compared to other major US metros, making getting around the valley relatively stress-free.

    • The Bad

    • Weak local tech job market, with most roles limited to gaming/casino legacy systems or government contracting that pay significantly less than remote roles.
    • Extreme summer heat (often exceeding 110°F/43°C) that forces residents indoors for 3-4 months of the year.
    • Poor public education system, with Clark County schools consistently ranking among the worst in the nation (private school is often considered a necessity).
    • Healthcare shortage, with residents frequently complaining about long wait times and the need to travel to CA or AZ for specialized medical care.
    • Transient population and "Sin City" culture can make building deep, long-term social connections difficult.
    • Car dependency is high; public transport is limited mostly to the tourist corridors.

    Moving Here

    Hard

    For US citizens, moving is straightforward but requires a car immediately. For foreigners, it is difficult due to strict US visa policies (no digital nomad visa exists; H1B is lottery-based). The city is very multicultural but English is the dominant business language. The expat community is smaller than in coastal hubs, though there is a growing community of remote tech transplants.

    Who Is This City For?

    Remote workers maximizing take-home pay, rock climbers/hikers who love desert landscapes, and child-free couples or singles who enjoy nightlife and dining. It is not recommended for junior engineers relying on the local job market or families dependent on public schooling.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather2.7/10-69% vs San Francisco
    Safety45+13%
    Pollution52+5%
    Events3-96%
    2.7/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    27°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    15°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    3,825h/yr+764h/yr(+25%)
    Hottest Month High
    40°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    4°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    23/yr-26/yr(-53%)

    Community & Quality

    Las Vegas community pulse

    Las Vegas has 3 Luma events listed.

    96% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Tax Rate

    Top 29%

    #36

    of 124 cities

    29%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #72

    of 124 cities

    51.5/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Middle of the pack

    #74

    of 124 cities

    3 events on luma

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #75

    of 124 cities

    54/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Safety Index

    Bottom 24%

    #96

    of 124 cities

    44.7/100

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Bottom 18%

    #103

    of 124 cities

    27/100 weather score

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    3.6 years
    1.0 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    2/yr(same as San Francisco)
    Cloud Cover
    26%(vs 34% in San Francisco)