Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Meridian?

Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Meridian?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire'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).

Concord vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Concord, NH is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 15% higher in Meridian, ID. New Hampshire 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.

Concord, NH

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$876

$1,523

+74% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$1,540

+36% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$1,489

+1% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,893

+7% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$485,000

+50% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$98,686

+18% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$49,100

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

37.4 yr

+3.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

76.1%

+18.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

44.4%

+4.3 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

23.2 min

22.3 min

+0.9 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

150.3

+17% in Concord, NH

Property Crime

1,251.5

583.5

+53% in Concord, NH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

52.5°F

+6.1°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

11.7 in

+28.9 in in Concord, NH

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)

27.0

14.4

+47% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$11.33

+48% in Concord, NH

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 Concord, NH

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 (NH / ID)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Concord vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Meridian?: Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Meridian?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire'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).