Las Vegas is famous for cheap flights and cheap hotels - right up until you see the final checkout price. Resort fees, taxes, show tickets, gambling losses, and the casino’s careful design to keep you spending add up to a bill most visitors don’t expect. Here’s what a Las Vegas trip actually costs in 2026, with no glossing over the extras.
The Key Numbers
All figures per person per day, based on two people sharing accommodation:
| Tier | Daily spend | 4-day trip (2 people) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $120–180 | $960–1,440 |
| Mid-range | $280–400 | $2,240–3,200 |
| Comfortable | $450–650 | $3,600–5,200 |
| Splurge | $800+ | $6,400+ |
These exclude flights. Las Vegas (Harry Reid International) is a major hub, so domestic flights are typically $80–300 return from most US cities.
The Resort Fee Problem
This is the single most important thing to understand about Las Vegas hotel pricing. Every major Strip hotel - Bellagio, MGM Grand, Caesars, Wynn, Aria, Venetian - charges a mandatory resort fee of $45–50 per night, on top of the room rate. This is not optional and is not included in the advertised price.
A room listed on a hotel booking site at $119/night actually costs:
- Room: $119
- Resort fee: $47
- Nevada hotel tax (12–13%): ~$22
- Total: approximately $188/night
Off-Strip hotels and downtown properties on Fremont Street charge lower resort fees ($20–35) or none at all. This is the single biggest lever for cutting Las Vegas accommodation costs.
Budget accommodation (no or low resort fees):
- Downtown Fremont Street area hotels: $60–100/night total
- Off-Strip casino hotels (Palms, Rio, Silverton): $80–130/night total before fees
- Budget motels on the Boulder Highway: $50–80/night
Mid-range Strip hotels (all-in with resort fees):
- Excalibur, Luxor, New York-New York: $130–180/night all-in on weeknights
- MGM Grand, Mirage, Paris: $180–280/night all-in
- Aria, Venetian, Caesars Palace (standard rooms): $220–350/night
Premium and luxury:
- Bellagio lake-view rooms: $300–500/night
- Wynn or Encore: $280–600/night depending on season
- The Cosmopolitan: $250–450/night
- Waldorf Astoria or NOBU Hotel: $350–700/night
Key insight: Strip hotels price dynamically. Weeknights are 30–50% cheaper than weekends. January–February (excluding Super Bowl weekend) and August (scorching heat) offer the cheapest rates. New Year’s Eve and major fights or boxing events are the most expensive weekends of the year.
Food Costs in Las Vegas
Las Vegas covers every price point, from 99-cent shrimp cocktails (Golden Gate Hotel, a local tradition) to Michelin-starred dining.
Budget eating:
- Casino food court meals: $12–20
- Buffet breakfast (smaller casinos): $15–25
- In-N-Out Burger (multiple locations): $8–14
- Grocery stores (Smith’s or Albertsons): $8–15 for a packed lunch
- Steak-and-eggs breakfast specials (many older casinos): $8–15
Mid-range:
- Caesars Palace or Venetian buffets: $35–55/person
- Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips (The LINQ): $25–40
- Mid-range casino restaurant dinner: $45–75/person before tip
- Off-Strip local restaurants: $25–50/person
Fine dining:
- Hell’s Kitchen (Caesars): $60–100/person
- Nobu (various locations): $80–150/person
- Joël Robuchon: $200–400/person
- Spago by Wolfgang Puck: $80–150/person
Drinks: Cocktails on the Strip run $15–22 each. If you’re gambling at a table or a slot machine, drinks are usually complimentary - the catch being that you’re gambling while you drink.
Realistic daily food budget:
- Tight: $35–55 (food court, one casino buffet)
- Comfortable: $80–120 (one mid-range restaurant, lighter other meals)
- Generous: $150–250 (two restaurant meals, cocktails at the bar)
Getting Around Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the few major US cities where you don’t need to rent a car if you’re staying on the Strip.
- Walking: Most Strip hotels are connected via indoor walkways. The Strip looks walkable on a map but distances are deceptive - it’s 4.5 miles end to end, and the desert heat (routinely 100–110°F in summer) makes long walks uncomfortable.
- The Deuce bus: $8/day unlimited or $6/ride - covers the entire Strip and connects to downtown Fremont Street.
- The Las Vegas Monorail: $5 per ride or $16/day - runs behind the east side of the Strip. Useful but doesn’t cover the full Strip.
- Uber/Lyft: $10–20 for most Strip-to-Strip trips; $15–25 to Fremont Street; $12–18 to the airport.
- Taxis: Available but pricier than rideshares; $20–35 for most Strip trips.
- Airport transfers: Uber/Lyft to Strip hotels: $18–30 depending on destination; taxi flat rate approximately $20–35.
Car rental is worth it if you plan day trips - the Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, or Death Valley are all within driving distance.
Shows and Entertainment
Shows are a core Las Vegas expense. Budget for at least one.
Budget entertainment:
- Fremont Street Experience (outdoor light show): free every night
- Many casino bars with live music: free (buy a drink)
- Gondola rides at the Venetian: $29–39 per person
- Eiffel Tower observation deck (Paris): $22–27
Mid-range shows:
- Blue Man Group: $75–110 per person
- Mat Franco (illusions): $50–80
- Tournament of Kings dinner show: $80–100
- Absinthe (adults-only circus): $105–145
Headline shows:
- Cirque du Soleil (O, Mystère, Mad Apple): $95–180
- Sphere residency shows: $150–350+
- Comedy headliners (Jerry Seinfeld, etc.): $80–250
- Major music residencies: $100–500+
Gambling: This is not technically an attraction cost, but for most visitors it’s an entertainment line item. Budget-conscious approach: set $50–150 as your daily “entertainment budget” for gambling, play table minimums ($10–25 at craps, blackjack), and enjoy the experience without expecting to profit. Many Strip slot machines have minimum bets of $1–3 per spin.
Sample Trip Budgets
Budget trip (4 days, 2 people)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Off-Strip hotel (4 nights × $90 all-in) | $360 |
| Food (4 days × $50 × 2) | $400 |
| Transport (Deuce bus + 1 Uber) | $80 |
| Shows/entertainment (1 mid-range show) | $160 |
| Gambling entertainment budget | $150 |
| Miscellaneous | $80 |
| Total (2 people, 4 days) | ~$1,230 |
Mid-range trip (4 days, 2 people)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Strip hotel (4 nights × $250 all-in) | $1,000 |
| Food (4 days × $100 × 2) | $800 |
| Transport (rideshares + airport) | $100 |
| Shows (1 Cirque, 1 mid-range) | $400 |
| Gambling entertainment budget | $300 |
| Miscellaneous | $150 |
| Total (2 people, 4 days) | ~$2,750 |
Comfortable trip (4 days, 2 people)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Premium Strip hotel (4 nights × $400) | $1,600 |
| Food (4 days × $160 × 2) | $1,280 |
| Transport (taxis/rideshares) | $150 |
| Shows (Sphere + headline act) | $700 |
| Gambling entertainment budget | $500 |
| Miscellaneous | $250 |
| Total (2 people, 4 days) | ~$4,480 |
When to Visit for Best Value
Cheapest: January–February (excluding Super Bowl weekend), August (extreme heat but very low room rates), and Monday–Thursday in most months.
Most expensive: New Year’s Eve, major boxing matches, EDC (Electronic Daisy Carnival in May), Labor Day weekend, and any date a major residency is performing.
Best balance: October–November and March are ideal. Comfortable weather (60–80°F), moderate hotel rates, and most shows and attractions are open without summer crowds.
For context on how Las Vegas compares to other US cities for total trip cost, our USA travel costs overview covers daily budgets across the country. For what to actually do in the city, the Las Vegas city guide covers the Strip neighbourhoods, day trip options, and how to get the most out of a visit.
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