From Buffets to Blackjack: The True Cost of Visiting Las Vegas in 2026

For years, Las Vegas built its reputation on being indulgent but affordable. Cheap hotel rooms, massive buffets, low-minimum tables and cocktails that didn’t require a second mortgage were all part of the deal.

That reputation hasn’t aged well.

Over the last decade, the real cost of a Vegas trip has risen sharply – often in ways that aren’t obvious until you’re already there. Mandatory resort fees, higher food and drink prices, and quietly inflated entertainment costs mean many visitors are now spending far more than they expect.

If you’re weighing up how (and where) to spend your entertainment budget, it’s worth comparing that reality with alternatives closer to home. UK players increasingly explore online casino and slots platforms that offer transparent pricing and lower-cost entertainment – including curated round-ups of new slot sites.

Consumer behaviour is shifting more broadly too, and rising living costs are making people far more value-conscious about leisure spending – and Vegas is no exception.

With that in mind, here are 10 everyday Vegas expenses that have become dramatically more expensive over the last 10 years.

Hotel Rooms – Up Up and Away

A decade ago, visitors could book a basic Strip hotel for as little as $29–$39 per night during off-peak times, with deals at places like the Luxor and Flamingo being common.

Today, average daily rates on the Strip regularly approach $186-$200 per night before taxes or extra fees – a 60%+ bump compared with not long ago.

That means a three-night trip that might have cost under $150 in the past now easily costs close to $600 or more, before you even eat or hit the tables.

Resort Fees – The Hidden “Tax” On Your Stay

What used to be a free pool, gym access or Wi-Fi has now become a standard mandatory fee tacked onto every booking.

Once modest or nonexistent, resort fees have climbed steadily – with many hotels charging $50-$55 per night or more, and taxes on top.

Even if you don’t use the services they supposedly cover, you’re still paying. Multiply that over a week and you’re looking at almost as much as another night’s stay.

Buffets – From Bargain to Billionaire Prices

Buffet culture was once a Las Vegas staple: huge selections, cheap prices and all-you-can-eat appeal. Those days are largely gone.

In the 2010s, large buffets like the Carnival World Buffet could be found for around $30 a head.

Now? You’d be lucky to find a buffet under $70-$100, and luxury options with lobster and prime rib push up to $175 or more.

“Good value” all-you-can-eat is now more of a nostalgia act than an everyday reality.

Cocktails – When $30 Became Normal

Ten years ago, a cocktail on the Strip was a fun but not outrageous treat. These days, tourist groups and online posts often highlight drinks creeping toward $20-$30 a pop, with premium pool drinks and nightspot specials topping even that.

At those prices, four cocktails across an evening can easily cost more than a restaurant meal – and for many UK visitors that’s a real “exchange-rate sting.”

Taxi, Uber and Transportation Costs

Getting around off-Strip used to be affordable; now, inflated ride-hail demand and higher airport taxi fees mean it’s a bigger share of your daily budget.

While specific decade-old pricing data is hard to pinpoint, anecdotal reports from frequent visitors consistently note a steeper cost for short journeys today.

Add in paid parking at most hotels on top of resort fees, and your travel budget can be hit twice.

Show Tickets – A Front-Row Price Tag

If you’re heading to a big residency show or a famous headliner on the Strip, the bill now feels like top-end theatre.

Fresh fan pages and ticket listings for long-running residencies like Britney: Piece of Me show that tickets in the mid-2010s regularly averaged around $150+ in the best seats.

Fast forward to today, and premium seats for big names or headline productions can easily climb past $200-$250, leaving many holidaymakers choosing between sights or spending.

Parking Fees – A Charge That Didn’t Exist Before

This one stings for road trippers and car renters alike. Where parking used to be included with your hotel stay, most properties now charge $15-$40 per night just to leave your car there.

That’s a small cost compared with a resort fee, but over a long stay it adds up, and it’s another place where visitors feel nickeled and dimed.

Club Entry & Pool Daybeds – Party Premiums

Vegas nightlife used to be a hedonistic bargain for travellers. Today’s club culture expects significant spend even before you sip a drink:

• Entry fees can be $30-$60 or more just to get through the door.
• Pool daybeds and cabanas at popular venues often require paid booking plus food/drink minimums that rival a week’s grocery bill.

Not quite like the budget strip bar nights of years past – and that’s before you factor in VIP upgrades.

Blackjack Minimums & Table Game Costs

Casinos have also quietly raised the floor – literally. Where $5 blackjack and low minimum tables used to be abundant, today many Strip casinos set higher minimums, especially during peak hours.

That means players who once could stretch a set budget over hours of play are finding their chips don’t last long. Anecdotal reports from frequent visitors make it clear the low-stakes era has shrunk considerably.

Everyday Meals – Lunch, Dinner and Snacks

A quick lunch on the Strip now often looks like: $30 for a sandwich, $50+ for a sit-down meal per person, with tips adding further cost. Even a breakfast that was once around $25-$30 a decade ago now lands closer to $40–$70 in many venues.

Tourists often remark that these basic costs make Vegas feel more expensive than big cities like New York – a remarkable shift for a destination once famous for affordability.

Why It’s Happened 

Several factors explain this price surge:

• Post-pandemic travel demand and labour shortages pushed hospitality pricing higher.
• Hotels introduced and expanded resort fees and hidden charges.
• Dining culture on the Strip has shifted toward higher-end experiences.
• Competition from luxury destinations pressured Vegas to diversify toward premium spenders.

Vegas vs. Bingo: The Cost-Fun Balance

Vegas is still an unforgettable experience with glitzy shows, world-class dining and nightlife on demand. But when you stack it up against a night of entertainment closer to home – whether a bingo session, meals out, takeaway treats or local theatre – your money goes a lot further and feels less nickel-and-dimed.

If you’re weighing up thrills against price, Vegas might still make the list for big trips… but for regular fun and social budgets, a lively bingo night or online slots adventure via sites like WDWBingo might be the wiser pick.