How Much Money Should I Take To Vegas In 2024? (2024)

You’re planning a Vegas trip and have many of the details covered, but you’re still left scratching your head when it comes to figuring out your daily Vegas budget. This is a difficult question to answer, and the amount the average person spends depends on multiple factors. Las Vegas can be done on a budget, or you can go beyond extravagant. Either way, you want to make sure you budget enough to have the time of your life.

How much money to bring to Las Vegas is a common question. We can’t answer it exactly for you, but we can provide solid guidelines to help. Consider these areas when deciding how much cash to bring along for your Vegas extravaganza.

The problem with looking online to find out how much money you should bring along for your trip is that everyone does Las Vegas differently. The first thing to consider is how much you WANT to spend in Vegas. Is cash a little tight, but you’re longing for a little getaway? Is this a once-in-a-lifetime trip or a special occasion that you’ve been saving for, and you want to go all out? Somewhere in between? This is the first question that needs to be answered.

The second thing to consider is if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort if it means you save money. There are some great deals to be had in Las Vegas, but sometimes you need to hunt around or sign up for special passes or programs to take advantage of them.

Finally, consider the type of Vegas experience you want to have. There’s so much to see and do in Vegas. Maybe you want to spend all day at the casinos or visit the hottest nightclub spots. It could also be that you’re looking for more of a low-key experience and want to explore the artsy side of Vegas with a bit of a bohemian side. Take a good look at the guides on this website to get an idea of all the fun and fabulous ways to experience Las Vegas.

With all of that out of the way, let’s dive in a little deeper into how much to plan on spending and the average cost of each of these main areas of planning your trip.

Before planning for anything else in Vegas, you’re going to need a place to stay. Fortunately for you, Las Vegas is one of those places that always seems to have room for one more hotel, so there’s no shortage of accommodations on every end of the price spectrum and in between. Currently, there are more than 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas, and that number is continually growing.

With so many options, the average price of a hotel room in Las Vegas is under $150 per night, typically around $120 plus resort fees. This is for a standard room in a mid-range hotel. Location, the size of the room, and amenities all influence a hotel’s standard pricing.

Generally speaking, hotels on the Strip will cost more than a hotel in Downtown Las Vegas or a budget hotel elsewhere in the city. That said, if you keep your eye out, you can find some great deals on hotel rooms in Vegas, although they might not be premium accommodations.

For example, on any random night, you can book a standard or deluxe room at the Hilton at Resorts World for about $200 a night plus resort fees. This is one of the newest hotels on the Strip, so you’re paying for the location and modern comfort and amenities. A similar room at Harrah’s, not far from Resorts World, will cost between $135-$150 plus resort fees for a similar-style room at their 3-star hotel.

If you decide to stay in Downtown Las Vegas, plan on spending $100-$150 for a standard room in Downtown hotels. Keep in mind that these prices are just averages. There are plenty of budget hotels in Vegas if you’re looking to spend less, although you’re giving up a lot in terms of location and amenities. On the opposite end of the spectrum are luxury accommodations that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars per night.

When booking your room, always make sure that you’re aware of added fees, especially resort fees. Many hotels add a charge of anywhere from $25-$60 onto the daily cost of your room. This resort fee covers the cost of some amenities and services, but in most cases, it’s not an optional fee. If you snag what you think is a great deal on an $80 room, just know that the resort fee could increase your daily costs significantly.

Next up is the food. You’ve got to eat, right? And you just happen to be in one of the best cities in the world for exploring an exciting culinary scene. From fine dining to legendary street food, Vegas has it all.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to do a little research online, look at some menus, and get an idea of how much you’re going to spend for a meal at your top restaurant picks. The first step is to decide how many meals you’re going to eat out and if you’re going for cheap fast food options, high-end dining, or somewhere in between.

In the average middle-of-the-road (price-wise) restaurant in Las Vegas, you can plan on the average meal costing about $25, give or take. There are cheaper options for sure, but if it’s a sit-down restaurant meal you’re after, this is a good starting point.

For a high-end meal, plan on spending quite a bit more. Mid to upper-range restaurants will easily cost you $50 or more per person, especially once you add a drink or two. Fine dining costs upwards of $100-$200 per person, depending on where you dine.

When calculating your dining budget, one more thing to consider is whether or not your hotel offers any type of free breakfast or meal credit as part of your room package. If you’re looking to save a little money and your hotel as a kitchenette, you can always keep a supply of snacks, beverages, and easy-to-fix meals like sandwiches or microwaveables for when you want some quick, cheap eats.

Las Vegas is known for its entertainment and nightlife, so of course, you want this to be part of your experience. Like everything else, how much you spend in this department depends on what exactly it is you want to do with your time in Las Vegas.

If you’re looking at shows, you can usually purchase tickets ahead of time once you know when you’ll be in Vegas. This will at least take some of the guesswork out of how much cash to bring or how much to plan on spending.

Show prices vary in Vegas but plan on spending upwards of $80 for some of the most popular shows and much more than that for premium seats. To give an example, a Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio will cost anywhere from $79-$366 depending on where your seats are.

Then, there’s the nightlife scene. Sin City never sleeps, or so it seems. The bar and club scene is huge here, so if that’s your thing, plan ahead by looking into cover charges and even making reservations for your top picks.

Drinks aren’t exactly cheap in Las Vegas. A typical co*cktail will run anywhere from $15-$20 on average. If you’re on a budget, it doesn’t hurt to maybe have the first drink or two of the night in your room and save a little bit of money before going out and hitting the city scene.

The casinos are a big part of Vegas culture, and most people want to at least dip their toes in and see what it’s all about, especially if it’s their first trip to Sin City. This is one area where your budget can easily get away from you, so proceed with caution.

If you just want to try some slots or a low-limit table, you could test the waters with $50. Those who want to make more of a night of it at the casino should plan on about $200-$250 per night. This is usually enough to at least get a couple of free drinks at the casino too. Of course, if you’re a high roller, that amount is significantly higher, but then you’re probably not all that concerned with how much you’re going to spend.

There are lots of activities to fill your days and nights in Las Vegas. First, there are plenty of free things to do in Vegas. Sightseeing is always free, but you want to make sure to check out all the free attractions like the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, strolling around Downtown Las Vegas, visiting the container park, the Fremont Street Experience…the list goes on and on.

Even if you’re looking at paid attractions, you can do a lot without spending too much money. Ziplining, adventure rides, museums, and activities for adrenaline junkies all top the list. There are also activities that are more expensive, such as helicopter tours of the surrounding natural areas.

Depending on what you already have planned, how much free time you have, and your budget, it’s good to plan on at least $100 per day for activities because chances are you’re going to find something spur of the moment that you’ll want to do.

Finally, let’s talk about getting around Las Vegas. Depending on where you’re staying and what you want to do, transportation may or may not be a major factor in your budget. If you’re staying mostly on the Strip, you can eliminate pretty much all in city travel costs by taking advantage of the free and low-cost local transportation, like trams.

The most expensive route would be a rental car because you’re not only going to pay for the cost of the car but also parking, which can quickly add up in Las Vegas.

It’s easy to spend money in Las Vegas, but the average daily cost and how much you bring depends so much on the type of experience you’re after. What’s important is that you do Vegas your way and that you bring enough money to enjoy all of it, no matter what your budget.