The room and the food
Downtown Vegas midweek rooms run $25 to $40 at the D, Plaza and California — cleaner than the price suggests. In Reno, Circus Circus and Sands Regency drop to $35 midweek. Add resort fees ($20 to $45) and you understand why the $30 room is often $60. For food, downtown coffee shops still do $8 breakfasts (Du-Par's, Magnolia's at the Four Queens), $12 lunch specials at casino cafes, and $2 hot dogs at the Cromwell. Ellis Island's steak special has crept to $16 but remains the best value dinner in the city.
Free and cheap things that are good
Bellagio fountains, Conservatory, Wynn atrium, Fremont Street Experience canopy show — all free. The Neon Museum is $20 (worth it). Red Rock Canyon scenic drive is $20 per car (split between four = $5 each). Valley of Fire is $15 per car. Great Basin National Park is free. In Reno, the Nevada Museum of Art is $10 and the Riverwalk is free. Drinks: $1 beers still exist at Emerald Island in Henderson and select downtown casinos. Play $5 blackjack downtown, not $25 on the Strip.
Good to know
Can you really eat well in Vegas for $50 a day?+
Yes if you skip Strip resorts. Downtown, off-Strip food halls (Fergusons, Container Park) and Chinatown on Spring Mountain Road all deliver $10 to $15 meals.
What about transport?+
The Deuce bus runs the Strip and downtown 24 hours for $6 a day. Skip Uber unless splitting four ways.