How Much Money Should You Bring to Vegas?
The honest answer depends on your hotel, how much you gamble, and how you eat. We break down the real costs for every type of Vegas trip from a lean $500 weekend to a $5,000+ luxury stay.
The Short Answer
Most Las Vegas visitors spend between $150 and $500 per person per day when you add up hotel, food, gambling, drinks, and entertainment. For a 3-night trip that is roughly $450 to $1,500 per person.
The real answer depends on four things: where you stay, how much you gamble, how you eat, and how many shows you see.
Vegas Budget by Trip Type
Real-world cost breakdown per person for a 3-night stay.
Hotel - Your Biggest Variable
Your hotel is the single biggest driver of your Vegas budget. A budget off-Strip property runs $60-$100/night. A mid-range Strip hotel runs $120-$200/night. Premium properties start at $200-$400/night.
Do not forget resort fees - almost every Strip hotel charges $25-$50 per night on top of your room rate.
Gambling - The Number Most People Get Wrong
Most visitors dramatically underestimate gambling spend. A realistic daily gambling budget by game:
Food and Drinks
Vegas dining ranges from $15 food court meals to $300 celebrity chef dinners. A realistic mid-range food budget is around $80-$150 per day.
Entertainment
Cirque du Soleil runs $100-$180/ticket. Comedy shows are $50-$100. A Sphere experience is $100-$200+. Budget $100-$150 per person and book in advance.
Free entertainment includes the Bellagio fountains, Fremont Street Experience, and casino people-watching.
Vegas Budget by Number of Nights
Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work
The Bottom Line
For a 3-night Vegas trip, bring at least $800-$1,200 per person for a comfortable mid-range experience. Staying on the Strip and gambling seriously? Budget $1,500-$2,500 per person.
Set your gambling budget before you arrive and track every session. Most people who go over budget are losing track of gambling losses across multiple sessions.