Is Las Vegas Expensive? My Affordable Budget Breakdown

Q: Is $100 dollars a day enough for Vegas?

No, $100 dollars a day in Vegas is generally not enough. This amount can only cover food expenses, provided you don't plan any excursions such as shows or gambling, and lodging is not included. For a delightful city experience, I suggest a minimum daily budget of approximately $180. This should cover your exploration, shows or attractions, a little shopping, as well as lodging and flights.

Q: What's a good budget for Vegas?

A good budget for Vegas would be around $300 to $600 per day . With this amount, you can enjoy various activities, dine at quality restaurants, and have a comfortable stay. Whether you're planning to try your luck at the casinos, explore the iconic Las Vegas Strip, or indulge in world-class entertainment, having a budget within this range will allow you to make the most of your experience in Sin City.

I recently visited Sin City and spent a little over $2,000 which covered two people, averaging around $300 per person per day. I understand the importance of finding the right balance between enjoying all that Vegas has to offer and keeping your wallet in check. This is why today I share my firsthand experience and break down the costs I paid for flights, hotel accommodations, food, and excursions.

If you’re planning a trip and wondering is Las Vegas expensive and how much to budget I cover all those answers. Whether you’re a budget-conscious traveler or simply looking to save some money while still having an amazing time in Las Vegas, this post is for you.

I learned first-hand how much things cost on my trip and underestimated just how much food would be. It ended up throwing my budget off track and made finding affordable places to eat quite challenging. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with tips and recommendations to help you navigate this issue. So If you’re looking to experience Las Vegas without breaking the bank let’s dive in!

Here is a quick breakdown, but you’ll want to read on for more details!

Flights	$880
Hotel	$309
Transportation	$170
Excursions	$330
Food & Fun Money	$610
Miscellaneous	$46
TOTAL	$2,325

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Some things to note about this budget…

It was spent on 2 adults
The total trip was 4 days (Thursday to Sunday)
All the numbers are in US dollars.

My Las Vegas 4 Day Budget!

Flights =$880

I paid $800 for a pair of round-trip tickets from SAT to LAS. We booked these tickets almost 10 weeks ahead, back in September, for a flight on November 10th. We went for the cheapest fare available, which unfortunately meant no priority boarding or seat selection.

To make sure I could pack for Vegas with both my carry-on luggage and a personal item, I upgraded my pass and offered the same to my husband. But he thought he could get away with using his oversized duffle bag as a personal item. Surprise, surprise! We got slapped with an $80 charge at the Frontier gate because of the bag’s size.

Our journey involved two different airlines: Allegiant Airlines for the trip to Las Vegas and Frontier Airlines for the way back home. But hey, even though we didn’t pick our seats, we lucked out and managed to sit together on both flights. I even scored a window seat on one leg of the journey.

You Can Find Cheap Flights To Las Vegas Here!

Hotel =$309

For our budget-friendly trip, we decided to stay at a 2-star hotel up north of the strip before hitting downtown. Despite the area feeling a bit sketchy (a common occurrence in the city), the hotel itself was clean and safe. Plus, the front desk agent was super friendly and let us check in 2 hours early! It was definitely worth it to visit Las Vegas.

While the hotel wasn’t smack in the middle of the strip where all the action is, being on the strip still gave us easy access to the Deuce bus station for most of our destinations. And when we needed to go a bit further, we relied on Uber – but more on that later. The cost of the hotel was $103 per night, and we scored a comfy king-size bed.

You Can Find Affordable Hotels In Las Vegas Here!

Transportation =$170

To get to the airport in our hometown my husband’s aunt was nice enough to give us a ride for free. A Vegas tip to get around is to take the Deuce city bus. It runs up and down the strip and goes all the way to Fremont Street. We bought a 3-day pass which cost $20 each.

We took Uber rides the rest of the time and they included: Getting to and from the airport in Vegas, getting to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign from our hotel (the bus never came), a trip to the movie theater, and then back, and leaving our home airport in San Antonio when the trip ended. In total, this came out to $130 in Uber rides.

I had planned to only spend $70 on rides but there was that time the bus never showed up and we also decided to not take the bus to the movie theater. We also took an Uber to Seven Magic Mountains but I included this cost under excursions. You can read my Las Vegas Guide to learn more ways to get around the city.

*Prices include tips.

Excursions =$330

A woman standing in front of a group of colorful stacked rocks.

I planned out every attraction I wanted to hit up in Las Vegas and got the tickets in advance to keep my wallet happy. The good news is, we didn’t feel the need to splurge on any extra stuff, which was a definite win.

Here’s the breakdown: we hit up the SkyPod at the Strat for $50 (2 tickets), caught Shin Lim’s mind-blowing magic show for $160 (2 tickets), watched a Marvel movie at the theater for $30 (2 tickets), and took an Uber to see the Seven Magic Mountains, which set us back around $90 round trip.

Looking back, I should’ve booked a tour that included the Hoover Dam with the Seven Magic Mountains. It would’ve been a smarter move, giving us more bang for the buck. But at the time, I was worried about time since we had a flight to catch on the same day. In hindsight, I think we could’ve made it work. Still, had an awesome time and no regrets about our choices.

There are so many bucket list things to do in Las Vegas, and we also spent a few days exploring the hotels on foot, admiring their cool designs. It was a DIY tour that didn’t cost us a dime. Here’s the full list of places we checked out:

the Venetian
the Luxor
the Eiffel Tower
the Bellagio Fountain
the High Roller Ferris Wheel
New York-New York
Excalibur
the Flamingo
Fremont Street
Mandalay Bay
MGM Grand
Fashion Show Mall
the Cosmopolitan
the Wynn

Here’s a list of other attractions and their prices that can be useful when planning your trip.

High Roller Ferris Wheel	$27
Red Rock Canyon	$20 per vehicle
Shark Reef Aquarium	$30
SkyJump	$133
Gondolas at the Venetian Resort	$40
The Big Apple Coaster	$25

Food and Spending Money =$610

For this part of our budget, I prefer carrying cash as it allows us to easily track our expenses and divide the amount into daily budgets. On this particular trip, I had taken $350 in cash.

With this amount, we covered expenses like souvenirs, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and even had the option to indulge in some gambling. While we aren’t big drinkers or party animals, a significant portion of our budget went towards dining out.

It turns out that Las Vegas is expensive to eat at, and I may have underestimated the cost of food. Perhaps I didn’t research enough or simply chose to ignore it. Regardless, this miscalculation resulted in us exceeding my planned budget by $260, which I had to cover using my card.

On average you can expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $125 per person a day on eating in Las Vegas. Because of this, I have made a list of a few budget-friendly options you can check out on the strip.

$15 Breakfast

Einstein Bros. Bagels (inside Excalibur)
La Salsa Cantina (inside the Miracle Mile Shops)

$20 Lunch

Earl of Sandwich (inside Planet Hollywood)
Shake Shack (located in New York-New York)

$50 Dinner

Carmine’s (inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace)
Buca di Beppo (inside Excalibur)

Miscellaneous =$46

I ended up buying a few things during my visit to Las Vegas, which was totally unexpected. It slipped my mind that being surrounded by stores reignites my love for shopping! But, I think I did a pretty good job managing my spending because I only spent $46 in total. The stores I checked out were a mini Target and Rihanna’s Savage Fenty X store.

Is Las Vegas Expensive? Here’s The Total!

Flights = $880

Hotel =$309

Transportation =$170

Excursions =$330

Food and Spending Money =$610

Miscellaneous =$46

Total =$2,345 or $587 per day for a couple.

FAQs

Is $100 dollars a day enough for Vegas?

No, $100 dollars a day in Vegas is generally not enough. This amount can only cover food expenses, provided you don’t plan any excursions such as shows or gambling, and lodging is not included.

For a delightful city experience, I suggest a minimum daily budget of approximately $180. This should cover your exploration, shows or attractions, a little shopping, as well as lodging and flights.

How much does a 3-day trip to Vegas cost?

If you’re planning a 3-day trip to Las Vegas, you can expect to spend anywhere between $700 and $1500. The cost will depend on various factors such as accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities. Las Vegas offers a wide range of options for every budget, so you can tailor your trip to fit your preferences and financial capabilities.

What’s a good budget for Vegas?

A good budget for Vegas would be around $300 to $600 per day. With this amount, you can enjoy various activities, dine at quality restaurants, and have a comfortable stay.

Whether you’re planning to try your luck at the casinos, explore the iconic Las Vegas Strip, or indulge in world-class entertainment, having a budget within this range will allow you to make the most of your experience in Sin City.

Final Thoughts-

I hope this answered is Las Vegas expensive. It can be an expensive destination, particularly when it comes to food and entertainment. Based on my personal experiences, I found myself spending around $300 a day while in Las Vegas. The cost of dining out and attending various shows and activities can quickly add up. It’s important to budget accordingly and plan ahead to ensure an enjoyable and affordable trip to the city of lights.

Happy exploring!

What Are My Recommended Resources For Planning A Trip?

When planning my trip, I use my trusted trio of CheapOair, Viator, and Booking.com to provide a comprehensive solution for everything I need.

CheapOair is a go-to resource for affordable flight tickets. With its extensive network of over 600 airlines, it offers a wide array of choices, enabling you to easily compare prices and select the best deal that suits your budget and travel schedule.

Viator on the other hand, is an excellent platform for booking tours and activities. It provides access to thousands of sightseeing tours, attractions, and events in over 1,500 locations worldwide. It ensures you don’t miss out on the unique experiences each destination has to offer.

Booking.com is your reliable partner for accommodations. With over 28 million listings including hotels, apartments, and hostels, you can find the perfect place to stay that fits your budget and preference.

Together, these platforms make trip planning convenient, cost-effective, and fun. They ensure you have everything you need, from flights and accommodations to activities – at your fingertips.

Check Out My Resources Page For All My Recommended Travel Tools!

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