Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Meridian?

Meridian, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,690 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Meridian?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).

Cambridge vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/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 $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Meridian, ID is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 22% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,523

+32% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,540

+38% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,489

+50% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,893

+43% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$485,000

+53% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$98,686

+22% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,100

+26% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

37.4 yr

+6.9 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

33.7%

76.1%

+42.4 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

44.4%

+35.8 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

22.3 min

+3.8 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

150.3

+66% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

583.5

+78% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

52.5°F

+1.0°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

11.7 in

+32.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$4.27/gal

+5% in Meridian, ID

Area: Massachusetts vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.4

+51% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$11.33

+63% in Cambridge, MA

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 Cambridge, MA

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 (MA / ID)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.30%

+3.7 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Meridian?: Meridian, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,690 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Meridian?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).