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.
By Wintra · Updated May 2026 · 12 min read
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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.
Budget Trip
$500–$800
Hotel (off-Strip)$80/night
Food and Drinks$60/day
Gambling$75/day
Entertainment$50
Transport$50
Mid-Range
$1,000–$1,800
Hotel (Strip)$175/night
Food and Drinks$120/day
Gambling$150/day
Entertainment$150
Transport$150
Luxury
$2,500–$5,000+
Hotel (Premium)$350/night
Food and Drinks$250/day
Gambling$300/day
Entertainment$300
Transport$200
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.
Book directly through the hotel website for the best rates. A Friday night can cost 3x a Tuesday night at the same property.
Gambling — The Number Most People Get Wrong
Most visitors dramatically underestimate gambling spend. A realistic daily gambling budget by game:
Game
Min Bet
Daily Budget
Penny Slots
$0.01/spin
$50–$100/day
Dollar Slots
$1–$3/spin
$150–$300/day
Blackjack
$10–$25/hand
$200–$400/day
Roulette
$5–$10/spin
$100–$250/day
Craps
$5–$10/roll
$150–$300/day
Poker
$1/$2 blinds
$200–$500/day
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.
Eat one meal per day off the Strip. Local restaurants charge 40–60% less. An Uber costs $8 each way.
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
2 Nights
Budget
$400–$700
Mid-Range
$700–$1,200
Luxury
$1,500–$3,000
3 Nights
Budget
$600–$1,000
Mid-Range
$1,000–$1,800
Luxury
$2,500–$5,000
4 Nights
Budget
$800–$1,300
Mid-Range
$1,300–$2,400
Luxury
$3,200–$6,500
5 Nights
Budget
$1,000–$1,600
Mid-Range
$1,600–$3,000
Luxury
$4,000–$8,000
7 Nights
Budget
$1,400–$2,200
Mid-Range
$2,200–$4,200
Luxury
$5,500–$11,000
Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work
Sign up for players cards
Free to join at every casino. Comps add up fast — free meals, hotel nights, and show credits.
Play early morning
6am–10am tables have lower minimums and no crowds. Same games, better access.
Eat one meal off-Strip
Downtown restaurants are 40–60% cheaper. An $8 Uber each way saves $30–$60 per meal.
Travel midweek
Monday–Thursday hotel rates can be 40–60% lower than Friday–Sunday.
Book shows in advance
Last-minute Strip tickets are marked up. Book 2–3 weeks out through the venue directly.
Track every session
Use Wintra to log every buy-in and walk-away. Most people lose track across multiple sessions.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most mid-range visitors do well with $200–$400 in cash for tips, small buys, and tables that don't take cards. Keep your main gambling bankroll separate and set a daily limit before you arrive.
$1,000 is workable for 2–3 nights if you stay off-Strip, eat modestly, and keep gambling to $100–$150/day. On the Strip with a gambling habit, expect to run short.
The average Vegas visitor spends $50–$150/day gambling. Slot players tend toward the lower end; table game players often spend $200–$400/day once you factor in buy-ins across multiple sessions.
Stay off-Strip or at a locals casino (Palace Station, Palms), eat at food courts and downtown spots, play penny and low-denomination slots, and use free shuttles between properties. You can do a 3-night trip for $500–$600 with discipline.
Yes. Tip cocktail waitresses $1–$2 per drink, dealers $5–$25 when you win a big hand, and hotel staff $2–$5 per bag. Budget $20–$40/day in tips if you're actively playing and drinking.
