Meridian, ID Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Meridian, ID Summary

Cost of living in Meridian research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Meridian is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Idaho, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Meridian is 116, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Meridian is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Meridian ranks as the #29 cheapest in Idaho out of 33.

  • Meridian ranks as the #4,151 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Meridian is $529,479.

  • The median income in Meridian is $98,686.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
116
Meridian's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Meridian, ID?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Meridian has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Idaho, Meridian has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Idaho's index of 94.

The standard of living in Meridian ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 33 places we measured in Idaho. By definition, that implies Meridian ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Gem State.

For more reading on life in Meridian, check out:

29 out of 33
In Idaho
4,151 out of 6,489
In America

Meridian Cost Of Living Vs. Idaho

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Meridian. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Meridian is 106.

  • The Groceries index in Meridian is 104.

  • The Health index in Meridian is 103.

  • The Housing index in Meridian is 154.

  • The Transportation index in Meridian is 113.

  • The Utilities index in Meridian is 86.

Living Expense Meridian Idaho National Average
Overall 116 94 100
Services 106 99 100
Groceries 104 103 100
Health 103 98 100
Housing 154 86 100
Transportation 113 103 100
Utilities 86 86 100
For more reading on cost of living around Idaho, check out:
Meridian Cost of Living Vs. ID

Meridian, ID Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Idaho, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Meridian is $529,479.

  • The Median Rent in Meridian is $1,714.

  • The Median Income in Meridian is $98,686.

  • The Home Value To Income in Meridian is 5.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Meridian is 0.21x.

Statistic Meridian Idaho United States
Median Home Value $529,479 $468,436 $303,400
Median Rent $1,714 $1,150 $1,348
Median Income $98,686 $74,636 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.4x 6.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.18x 0.21x
$529,479
Median Home Value
$1,714
Median Rent
$98,686
Median Income

Meridian, ID Costs By Category

Detailed Meridian Services Costs Vs. Idaho

Item Meridian Idaho
Shampoo $1.21 $1.28
Movie $11.6 $12.13
Bowling $18.53 $18
Haircut $27.88 $24.26
Beauty Salon $41.57 $45.56

Detailed Meridian Groceries Costs Vs. Idaho

Item Meridian Idaho
Ground Beef $5.96 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.46 $1.57
Milk $4.91 $4.67
Potatoes $4.57 $4.93
Pizza $11.56 $12.09
Beer $10.59 $10.41
Toothpaste $4.22 $3.7

Detailed Meridian Health Costs Vs. Idaho

Item Meridian Idaho
Optometrist $152.62 $125.68
Doctor $150.9 $135.78
Dentist $97.0 $113.29

Detailed Meridian Transportation Costs Vs. Idaho

Item Meridian Idaho
Gasoline $3.6 $3.46
Tire Balancing $75.93 $59.92

Detailed Meridian Utilities Costs Vs. Idaho

Item Meridian Idaho
All Electricity $154.2 $193.99
Phone $176.97 $192.25

Meridian SnackAbility

9
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
8
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Meridian

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Meridian. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Nampa, ID has a cost of living index of 105, 0.9x Meridian.

  • Caldwell, ID has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Meridian.

  • Eagle, ID has a cost of living index of 135, 1.2x Meridian.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Meridian
Nampa, ID 106,289 105 0.9x
Caldwell, ID 63,465 104 0.9x
Eagle, ID 31,490 135 1.2x
Kuna, ID 25,960 112 1.0x
Star, ID 13,231 113 1.0x
Middleton, ID 10,101 106 0.9x
Emmett, ID 7,948 96 0.8x

Articles About Idaho

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