Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Meridian?

Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Houston or Meridian?

Houston 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).

Houston vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,894 in Houston, TX and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 36% 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.

Houston, TX

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,142

$1,523

+33% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,156

$1,540

+33% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,375

$1,489

+8% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,664

$1,893

+14% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$253,400

$485,000

+91% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$62,894

$98,686

+57% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,410

$49,100

+1% in Houston, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.3 yr

37.4 yr

+3.1 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

42.0%

76.1%

+34.1 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.0%

44.4%

+8.4 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

27.3 min

22.3 min

+5.0 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,153.8

150.3

+87% in Houston, TX

Property Crime

4,324.9

583.5

+87% in Houston, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

70.3°F

52.5°F

+17.8°F in Houston, TX

Annual Precipitation

54.6 in

11.7 in

+42.9 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.52/gal

$4.27/gal

+21% in Meridian, ID

Area: Houston vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

14.4

+10% in Houston, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$11.33

+64% in Houston, 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 Houston, 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

Houston vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Houston or Meridian?: Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Houston than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Houston versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Houston or Meridian?: Houston 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).