Las Vegas is cheap to reach but expensive to enjoy. Resort fees, parking, food and shows add up quickly, and prices vary a lot between weekdays and weekends.
Is Las Vegas expensive?
Very expensive for most visitors. Las Vegas is cheap to reach but expensive to enjoy.
Money, cards and tipping
Currency: US dollar ($). Cards are accepted everywhere; casinos also have ATMs with high fees.
Tipping: Tipping is expected: 15–20% in restaurants, $1–2 per drink for bartenders and cocktail servers, a few dollars for valets, porters and housekeeping.
Where to save money
- Check the resort fee when comparing hotels: it can add significantly to the nightly rate.
- Visit midweek: room rates drop sharply.
- Eat the lunch specials and buffets, and share portions.
- Walk between neighbouring resorts, but note that distances are longer than they look.
- Use free attractions: fountains, conservatories and street shows.
Where it is worth spending
- A Cirque du Soleil or residency show.
- A helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon.
- A dinner at a celebrity-chef restaurant.
Free things to do in Las Vegas
- The Fountains of Bellagio and the Bellagio Conservatory
- The Fremont Street Experience light canopy
- Resort lobbies, gardens and the free public areas of the big casinos
- Walking the Strip at night
Prices, ticket rules and safety conditions change. Treat this as a starting point and check official sources and your government's travel advice before you go.
Las Vegas budget questions
What currency is used in Las Vegas?
US dollar ($). Cards are accepted everywhere; casinos also have ATMs with high fees.
Is tipping expected in Las Vegas?
Tipping is expected: 15–20% in restaurants, $1–2 per drink for bartenders and cocktail servers, a few dollars for valets, porters and housekeeping.
How can I save money in Las Vegas?
Check the resort fee when comparing hotels: it can add significantly to the nightly rate. Visit midweek: room rates drop sharply. Eat the lunch specials and buffets, and share portions.