Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Meridian?

Meridian, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,690 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Meridian?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Denver vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Meridian, ID is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 7% higher in Meridian, ID. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$1,523

+2% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,540

+3% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,489

+24% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,893

+17% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$485,000

+17% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$98,686

+8% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$49,100

+21% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

37.4 yr

+2.2 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

49.1%

76.1%

+27.0 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

44.4%

+11.2 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

22.3 min

+3.1 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

150.3

+85% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

583.5

+88% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

52.5°F

+2.3°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

11.7 in

+3.8 in in Denver, CO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$4.27/gal

+2% in Meridian, ID

Area: Denver vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

14.4

+16% in Denver, CO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$11.33

+25% in Denver, CO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

about equal

Bread (lb)

$2.04

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / ID)

2.9%

+3.1 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.30%

+0.9 pp in ID

Denver vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Meridian?: Meridian, ID is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,690 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Meridian?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).