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 121, 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 100.
The standard of living in Meridian ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 35 places we measured in Idaho. By definition, that implies Meridian ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Gem State.
For more reading on life in Meridian, check out:
Meridian Cost Of Living Vs. Idaho
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Meridian. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Meridian is 102.
The Groceries index in Meridian is 102.
The Health index in Meridian is 153.
The Housing index in Meridian is 107.
The Transportation index in Meridian is 106.
The Utilities index in Meridian is 104.
| Living Expense | Meridian | Idaho | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 100 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 101 | 100 |
| Health | 153 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 107 | 100 |
Meridian Cost Of Living Compared To Idaho Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Idaho, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Meridian Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Meridian is $526,994.
The Median Rent in Meridian is $1,805.
The Median Income in Meridian is $100,795.
The Home Value To Income in Meridian is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Meridian is 0.21x.
Meridian, ID Costs By Category
Detailed Meridian Services costs vs. Idaho
Detailed Meridian Groceries costs vs. Idaho
Detailed Meridian Health costs vs. Idaho
Detailed Meridian Transportation costs vs. Idaho
Meridian SnackAbility
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 102, 0.8x Meridian.
Caldwell, ID has a cost of living index of 98, 0.8x Meridian.
Eagle, ID has a cost of living index of 138, 1.1x Meridian.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Meridian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nampa, ID | 110,319 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Caldwell, ID | 66,516 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Eagle, ID | 32,855 | 138 | 1.1x |
| Kuna, ID | 27,158 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Star, ID | 14,745 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Middleton, ID | 10,649 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Emmett, ID | 8,275 | 95 | 0.8x |
