Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Meridian?

Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Meridian?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Meridian?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/mo est.

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Burlington, VT is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 30% higher in Meridian, ID. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,284

$1,523

+19% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,540

+21% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,489

+14% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,893

+5% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$485,000

+21% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$98,686

+43% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$49,100

+18% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

37.4 yr

+10.7 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

39.8%

76.1%

+36.3 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

44.4%

+16.1 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

22.3 min

+3.1 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

150.3

+70% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

4,408.9

583.5

+87% in Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.0°F

52.5°F

+6.5°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

11.7 in

+25.1 in in Burlington, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.27/gal

+8% in Meridian, ID

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

14.4

+41% in Burlington, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$11.33

+57% in Burlington, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Meridian, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Meridian, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Meridian, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Burlington, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / ID)

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

5.30%

+3.5 pp in VT

Burlington vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Meridian?: Burlington, VT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,540 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Meridian?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).