Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Meridian?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Meridian?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 28% higher in Meridian, ID. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$815

$1,523

+87% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$900

$1,540

+71% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,489

+38% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,893

+51% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$485,000

+84% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$98,686

+39% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

$49,100

+5% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

37.4 yr

+1.0 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

58.1%

76.1%

+18.0 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

44.4%

+1.8 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

22.3 min

+3.0 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

150.3

+69% in Huntsville, AL

Property Crime

2,395.7

583.5

+76% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

62.1°F

52.5°F

+9.6°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

11.7 in

+42.6 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Meridian, ID

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

14.4

+12% in Huntsville, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$11.33

+53% in Huntsville, AL

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 Huntsville, AL

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 (AL / ID)

+2.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

5.30%

+0.3 pp in ID

Huntsville vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Meridian?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Meridian?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).