Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Meridian?

Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas than in Meridian?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Meridian?

Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Las Vegas vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Las Vegas

Nevada

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Las Vegas, NV versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Las Vegas, NV is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,723 in Las Vegas, NV and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 28% higher in Meridian, ID. Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Las Vegas, NV

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$992

$1,523

+54% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,540

+30% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,401

$1,489

+6% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,740

$1,893

+9% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$395,300

$485,000

+23% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$70,723

$98,686

+40% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,670

$49,100

+5% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.5 yr

37.4 yr

+1.1 yr in Las Vegas, NV

Homeownership

55.7%

76.1%

+20.4 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

27.3%

44.4%

+17.1 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

25.8 min

22.3 min

+3.5 min in Las Vegas, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

433.3

150.3

+65% in Las Vegas, NV

Property Crime

2,642.1

583.5

+78% in Las Vegas, NV

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

68.4°F

52.5°F

+15.9°F in Las Vegas, NV

Annual Precipitation

5.4 in

11.7 in

+6.4 in in Meridian, ID

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Las Vegas, NV

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTC (residential routes) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.1

14.4

+10% in Meridian, ID

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$13.83

$11.33

+18% in Las Vegas, NV

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 (NV / ID)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.30%

+5.3 pp in ID

Las Vegas vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Las Vegas or Meridian?: Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Las Vegas versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Las Vegas or Meridian?: Las Vegas is taxed under Nevada's rules (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).