Salary Needed to Live in Las Vegas as a Retiree

A retired individual (65+) needs approximately $59,294/year to live comfortably in Las Vegas, NV, including 5% savings.

Direct Answer

A retiree needs about $59,294/year to live comfortably in Las Vegas, NV. The bare-minimum salary is $55,233/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 5% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $3,550.

The minimum scenario leaves about $3,360/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $4,941/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.

Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$59,294
with 5% savings
Bare Minimum
$55,233
$4,603/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$3,360
8% below national avg

Detailed Monthly Budget for a Retiree in Las Vegas

ExpenseLas VegasNat'l AvgDiff
1-2BR Senior-Friendly Rent$1,172$1,448-19%
Groceries$267$189+41%
Utilities$135$183-26%
Transportation$179$211-15%
Car Insurance$192$215-11%
Health Insurance$614$642-4%
Medicare Supplement$208$200+4%
Prescription Drugs$156$150+4%
Internet + Phone$125$120+4%
Recreation & Social$208$200+4%
Home Maintenance$104$100+4%
Total Monthly$3,360$3,658-8%

How We Calculated the Salary

Monthly expenses:$3,360
Target savings (5%):$190/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$3,550
Effective tax rate:27%

Gross annual salary needed:$59,294

What Drives the Salary Number?

Housing
$1,172

1-2BR Senior-Friendly rent is 35% of this monthly budget.

Taxes
27%

Estimated federal plus NV state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.

Savings target
5%

$190/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.

Local index
104/100

Las Vegas is below the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.

Compare Salary Needed in Nearby west Cities

Phoenix, AZ
$59,665/yr
$371 more than Las Vegas
Peoria, AZ
$62,418/yr
$3,124 more than Las Vegas
Visalia, CA
$57,494/yr
$1,800 less than Las Vegas
Medford, OR
$57,776/yr
$1,518 less than Las Vegas

Salary Planning Checklist

  1. Keep 1-2br senior-friendly housing near $1,172/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
  2. Budget $801/mo for persona-specific costs such as Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drugs.
  3. Use $55,233/year as the survival floor and $59,294/year as the healthier negotiation target.

Other Household Types in Las Vegas

Single Person
$62,038/yr
$3,257/mo expenses
Couple (No Kids)
$80,970/yr
$4,116/mo expenses
Family with Kids
$138,683/yr
$6,703/mo expenses

Related Pages

Living Alone in Las VegasCity OverviewRent in Las VegasMonthly BudgetAfford on $75K?Afford on $100K?Cost of Living

FAQ

What salary does a retiree need in Las Vegas?
A retiree needs approximately $59,294/year ($4,941/month gross) to live comfortably in Las Vegas with a 5% savings rate.
How much is rent for a retiree in Las Vegas?
A 1-2br senior-friendly in Las Vegas costs approximately $1,172/month, which is the largest single expense at 35% of the total budget.
Is Las Vegas affordable for a retiree?
Yes, Las Vegas is 8% more affordable than the national average for a retiree.
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