Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Meridian?

Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (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 Fort Worth than in Meridian?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Meridian?

Fort Worth 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).

Fort Worth vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 22% 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.

Fort Worth, TX

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,310

$1,523

+16% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,191

$1,540

+29% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,393

$1,489

+7% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,721

$1,893

+10% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$277,300

$485,000

+75% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$76,602

$98,686

+29% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,100

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

37.4 yr

+4.0 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

56.7%

76.1%

+19.4 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

31.7%

44.4%

+12.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

26.9 min

22.3 min

+4.6 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

465.2

150.3

+68% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

2,735.7

583.5

+79% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.7°F

52.5°F

+13.2°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

36.1 in

11.7 in

+24.4 in in Fort Worth, 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)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.4

+10% in Fort Worth, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$11.33

+64% in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, 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%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Fort Worth vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Worth or Meridian?: Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (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 Fort Worth than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Fort Worth versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Fort Worth or Meridian?: Fort Worth 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).