Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Meridian?

Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $62,000 in Meridian.

Which has lower taxes, Madison or Meridian?

Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Meridian under Idaho's (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax).

Madison vs Meridian Cost of Living 2026

Madison

Wisconsin

$1,420/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 $1,420 in Madison, WI versus $1,690 in Meridian, ID. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $76,983 in Madison, WI and $98,686 in Meridian, ID — about 22% higher in Meridian, ID. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax.

Madison, WI

Meridian, ID

Rent

Studio

$1,018

$1,523

+50% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,219

$1,540

+26% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,432

$1,489

+4% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,766

$1,893

+7% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$346,900

$485,000

+40% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$76,983

$98,686

+28% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$58,080

$49,100

+15% in Madison, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.8 yr

37.4 yr

+5.6 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

46.6%

76.1%

+29.5 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

59.2%

44.4%

+14.8 pp in Madison, WI

Avg Commute

19.4 min

22.3 min

+2.9 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

259.5

150.3

+42% in Madison, WI

Property Crime

1,884.5

583.5

+69% in Madison, WI

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.5°F

52.5°F

+6.0°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

34.5 in

11.7 in

+22.7 in in Madison, WI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.27/gal

+11% in Meridian, ID

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.6

14.4

+27% in Madison, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$18.17

$11.33

+38% in Madison, WI

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Meridian, ID

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$2.04

+23% in Meridian, ID

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Madison, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$7.36

+9% in Meridian, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.01

+4% in Madison, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Meridian, ID

Average prices — Midwest vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / ID)

+1.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.30%

+2.4 pp in WI

Madison vs Meridian — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Madison or Meridian?: Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Madison than in Meridian?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Madison versus $62,000 in Meridian.
Which has lower taxes, Madison or Meridian?: Madison is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).