Budget dinner for two from the menu subtotal, then add applicable tax, disclosed charges and the tip you choose. A $60 order and a $240 order are different purchases; neither establishes a reliable citywide average. Drinks, shared dishes and transportation can change the comparison substantially.
Use the examples below as a calculation method, then replace the subtotal with the food and drinks you would actually order from a current menu. All amounts are for two people together unless stated otherwise.
Dinner-for-two budget examples
| Food and drink subtotal for two | Illustrative 8.375% tax | Illustrative 20% pre-tax tip | Calculated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60.00 | $5.03 | $12.00 | $77.03 |
| $120.00 | $10.05 | $24.00 | $154.05 |
| $240.00 | $20.10 | $48.00 | $308.10 |
These are our worked examples, not restaurant quotes, measured average prices or a required tip. They assume the entire subtotal is taxable, no additional mandatory charges and a voluntary 20% tip calculated before tax. Actual bill rounding and the treatment of particular charges can differ.
The Nevada Department of Taxation’s county rate listing identifies Clark County’s rate as 8.375%. That is the rate used here, not a single rate for all of Nevada.
Build a subtotal from the meal you want
- Choose the correct menu. Check dinner rather than assuming a lunch special is available that evening.
- List the dishes. Include starters, two mains or a shared dish, sides and dessert as applicable.
- Add the drinks. Include cocktails, wine, coffee, bottled water or other beverages you would buy.
- Check how prices are expressed. A per-person tasting menu, a dish for two and a per-ounce price are different units.
- Read extras and booking terms. Check supplements, deposits, cancellation terms and any automatic charge.
Illustration: two mains at $24 each plus a shared $12 starter make a $60 food subtotal. Add two hypothetical $15 drinks and the subtotal becomes $90 before tax and gratuity. Those are invented inputs for planning, not current menu prices. The point is to include your whole order rather than multiplying one entrée price by two.
Work backward from a spending limit
If your all-in meal budget is $200, spending $200 on food and drinks would exceed it once other charges are added. Under the table’s simplified assumptions, divide the budget by 1.28375: $200 ÷ 1.28375 is approximately $155.79 available for the menu subtotal.
That leaves about $13.05 for the illustrated tax and $31.16 for the illustrated tip. If you need to include a ride or a separately disclosed charge within that $200, subtract that cost before estimating the available food-and-drink subtotal. Use the actual bill terms when making the final decision.
Compare Strip and off-Strip meals fairly
A lower menu price does not automatically make an off-Strip dinner cheaper overall. Compare the meals you would actually order and add round-trip transport or parking.
Illustration: a $100 dinner total at your hotel and an $80 dinner total plus $30 in transport cost $100 and $110 respectively. The second meal may still be the experience you want, but it is not a $20 saving. Neither example is a live quote.
For an off-Strip shared meal, see our dim sum location and menu comparison or Mexican restaurant planning guide. Check the actual journey with our Vegas transport cost guide.
Avoid counting charges twice
Read any automatic gratuity or service-charge line and ask the restaurant what it represents before deciding whether to add a further tip. If a reservation deposit is credited to the final bill, account for that payment once; confirm the reservation terms rather than assuming every deposit is handled the same way.
A dining credit needs its own eligibility check: which restaurant, which charges, which dates and any minimum spending or expiry rules? Use our resort-credit checklist before deducting a credit from your budget.
Choose the dinner, then confirm the final plan
For a premium steakhouse outing, compare CUT, SW and Bazaar Meat. If dinner leads into a show, allow time for the meal, travel and theater arrival. Keep that evening’s cost within your overall Vegas trip budget.
Tax source checked October 15, 2026. All meal totals on this page are explicitly stated budget illustrations. Confirm current menus, charges and reservation terms directly with the restaurant.
To narrow a dinner shortlist, compare seafood restaurants and menu costs or use the kosher dining and meal-planning guide for those requirements. If your preferred table is unavailable, read the last-minute restaurant reservation steps. For dessert elsewhere, compare ice cream and gelato shop locations and costs separately from the dinner bill. For pastries or a cake pickup, compare current bakery counters, service hours and dessert-trip costs. Confirm the actual counter or collection window before adding a separate stop to the dinner budget.
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