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10.01.2025
The Cost of Leaving Home: Why Arielle Rollins Is Saying Goodbye to Las Vegas
When Arielle Rollins moved to Las Vegas in 2017, she believed she was building a better life for her family. Drawn by the promise of lower living costs and the support of her mother and brother, the single mother of three hoped Nevada would offer stability, opportunity, and community.
Eight years later, Arielle is preparing to leave the city she’s come to love — not because she wants to, but because she can no longer afford to stay.
A Mother, an Advocate, a Leader
Arielle is more than a parent. She’s a graduate of the Children’s Cabinet Child Care Excellence Academy, a business operations specialist, and a dedicated member of the First 5 Nevada Family Leadership Council since 2021. Through this role, she’s learned to navigate complex systems, connect families to resources, and speak up for those whose voices often go unheard.
“I’ve become more confident as an advocate,” she says. “Not just for my own children, but for other families in Las Vegas. I want parents to know they can speak out too.”
Her three children — Anderson, age 16; Maxwell, age 11; and Addison, age 7 — are thriving in school, with passions ranging from jazz band to technology. But Arielle says the financial strain of raising them alone in Las Vegas has reached a breaking point.
The Breaking Point
The challenges, she explains, are layered:
- Housing costs that have risen far beyond her income.
- Child care subsidies that expired in April 2025, with income eligibility thresholds so low that even modest earnings could disqualify her.
- Wages in early childhood education — her chosen field — that fall far short of what’s needed to support a family.
According to the Nevada self-sufficiency calculator, a single parent with three children in Clark County needs $90,304 a year just to cover basic expenses without assistance. Arielle earns far less.
“I’m making under $40,000 a year,” she says. “To save for a move, I’d have to work three jobs — and that means less time with my kids. It’s not sustainable.”
Her story is not unique. She’s the third single mother from the First 5 Nevada Family Leadership Council to leave Nevada in the past year due to affordability issues.
The Rising Cost of Living in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has seen a steady climb in living expenses over the past year, making it harder for working families to keep up:
- Overall prices in the Las Vegas area rose 2.5% from 2024 to 2025, with the largest increases in transportation, food, and housing.
- Housing costs are now 3.3% higher than the national average, with rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment averaging more than $1,500 per month.
- Transportation costs are 5.3% higher than the national average, driven by rising car insurance rates and fuel prices.
- Food prices in the West Region, which includes Nevada, rose 3.4% over the past year, with restaurant meals up 4.0%.
- The minimum wage in Nevada is $12/hour in 2025 — far below the income needed for a single parent to meet basic needs.
For Arielle, these numbers aren’t abstract. They show up in her grocery bill, her rent statement, and her gas tank — and they’re the reason she’s packing up her life.
Looking Ahead
Arielle has her sights set on Georgia, a state she says offers better wages, stronger support for single parents, and high-performing schools. She’s also considering a return to Illinois, where she has roots, though safety and opportunity will guide her final choice.
Her departure is bittersweet. She leaves behind friends, colleagues, and a community she’s helped strengthen. But she hopes her story — and those of other parents like her — will push Nevada’s leaders to act.
