Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 1% higher in Meridian, ID. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$1,523
+52% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,540
+46% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,489
+4% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,893
+3% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$485,000
+29% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$98,686
+1% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$49,100
+18% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
37.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
63.7%
76.1%
+12.4 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
44.4%
+6.7 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
19.0 min
22.3 min
+3.3 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
150.3
+85% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
583.5
+79% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
52.5°F
+15.1°F in Meridian, ID
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
11.7 in
+6.2 in in Anchorage, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.21/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
14.4
+49% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.35
$11.33
+35% in Anchorage, AK

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — West vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / ID)
None
6%
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Anchorage vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Meridian?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Meridian?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Meridian?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).