Money, tipping, and prices in Nevada
The 12 tips that matter, from the $1 cocktail rule at slot machines to the 8.375 percent Clark County sales tax lurking on every hotel bill.
Casino chips and dollar bills on a felt table
What things cost
Coffee at a Strip Starbucks: $6. Slice of pizza at a casino food court: $8 to $10. Bottle of water from a hotel gift shop: $6. Same water from a CVS on Las Vegas Boulevard: $2. Strip cocktail: $18 to $24. Downtown cocktail: $10 to $14. Mid-range dinner entree: $32 to $48. Uber from airport to mid-Strip: $25. Sales tax in Clark County: 8.375 percent, added at the register. Room rate quotes never include the resort fee ($40 to $55) or the 13.38 percent room tax.
Tipping the Nevada way
Cocktail server at a casino: $1 to $2 per drink, cash. Bartender: $1 to $2 per drink or 20 percent on a tab. Restaurant server: 18 to 22 percent. Housekeeping: $3 to $5 per night, left daily. Bell staff: $2 per bag. Rideshare driver: 15 to 20 percent. Dealer, when you win a hand: a $5 chip. Valet: $3 to $5 on return. Show ushers who seat you at general admission: $10 to $20 for better seats. Not tipping is noticed and remembered.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask before they set off on this one.
Yes, if you are actively playing slots or tables. Tip $1 to $2 per drink or the server will find you slowly.
Cards everywhere; keep $50 to $100 in small bills for tips, taxis and low-limit table games.
Casino ATMs charge $6 to $10 per withdrawal on top of your bank's fee. Use a bank ATM off-Strip if you need cash.
No. Sales tax is 8.1 percent statewide and 8.375 percent in Clark County (Vegas). There is no state income tax, which is a different thing.
Hotels in Nevada
More guides to Nevada
All guides
Itineraries · 7 min read
48 hours in Nevada
Two days built around the neon of the Strip and one long desert drive, with 6 anchor stops and a sunset payoff at Red Rock Canyon.
Itineraries · 9 min read
One week in Nevada
Seven days from the Strip to the pines of Lake Tahoe via 3 state parks and one very long stretch of US Route 50, the loneliest road in America.
Itineraries · 6 min read
Nevada in 3 days on a budget
Neon, red rock and free entertainment for under $400 total, including 2 nights in a downtown hotel and every meal.
Same rooms, same rates as booking direct — and every stay funds one verified tonne of carbon removal.