Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 26% higher in Meridian, ID. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$1,523
+40% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,540
+30% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$1,489
+6% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,893
+4% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$485,000
+75% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$98,686
+34% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$49,100
+5% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
37.4 yr
+3.8 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
54.8%
76.1%
+21.3 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
44.4%
+11.3 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
26.7 min
22.3 min
+4.4 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
494.2
150.3
+70% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
2,434.5
583.5
+76% in Arlington, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
52.5°F
+12.9°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
11.7 in
+27.9 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.27/gal
+19% in Meridian, ID

Area: Texas vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.4
+10% in Arlington, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$11.33
+64% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Meridian, ID
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Meridian, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Arlington, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Meridian, ID
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Meridian, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Meridian, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / ID)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Arlington vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Meridian?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Meridian?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Meridian?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).