I'm basing that on my area...and averaging areas all over the US where we do work, Chicago being one of them, which I think is where the originator of the thread is from.

As for Vegas being fairly inexpensive...yes and no. We have no State income tax here, sales tax is pretty high at 8.1% for all goods, there are no toll roads, there's always something to do and going on (always costs money), insurance rates are high particularly car insurance, fuel is pretty high (3.50-4.00 per gallon), dining and entertainment can be expensive unless you stay away from the tourist traps but that's where all the good stuff primarily is, shopping seems more expensive to me likely in part due to our location, we are land locked and in the middle of nowhere so getting out of town to go anywhere can be costly, housing rates are lower than prior 5 years but I still don't think you get what you pay for when you look at the quality (lack there of) of construction. I suppose if you plopped yourself down here you could live modestly if you wanted to but it's not easy...forgetting about the fact if you drink/gamble which is available to you everywhere 24/7.