Living Cost Compare
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Jacksonville, FL is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 32% higher in Meridian, ID. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Jacksonville, FL
Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio
$1,127
$1,523
+35% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,146
$1,540
+34% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,385
$1,489
+8% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,893
+23% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$266,100
$485,000
+82% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$66,981
$98,686
+47% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$48,830
$49,100
+1% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.4 yr
+1.0 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
57.4%
76.1%
+18.7 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
31.8%
44.4%
+12.6 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
24.1 min
22.3 min
+1.8 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
558.4
150.3
+73% in Jacksonville, FL
Property Crime
2,600.1
583.5
+78% in Jacksonville, FL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
70.2°F
52.5°F
+17.7°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
49.2 in
11.7 in
+37.5 in in Jacksonville, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.83/gal
$4.27/gal
+12% in Meridian, ID

Area: Florida vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
14.4
+5% in Jacksonville, FL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.62
$11.33
+52% in Jacksonville, FL

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 Jacksonville, FL
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 (FL / ID)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.30%
+5.3 pp in ID

Jacksonville vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jacksonville or Meridian?
Jacksonville, FL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jacksonville than in Meridian?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Jacksonville versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Jacksonville or Meridian?
Jacksonville is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% 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).