Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
Mesa

Arizona

$1,470/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,690 in Meridian, ID versus $1,470 in Mesa, AZ. Overall, Mesa, AZ is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $78,779 in Mesa, AZ — about 20% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
Mesa, AZ

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$1,209
+21% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$1,288
+16% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$1,458
+2% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,819
+4% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$364,300
+25% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$78,779
+20% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$51,380
+5% in Mesa, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
37.2 yr
+0.2 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
76.1%
64.4%
+11.7 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
31.5%
+12.9 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
22.3 min
25.0 min
+2.7 min in Mesa, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
486.2
+223% in Mesa, AZ
Property Crime
583.5
1,488
+155% in Mesa, AZ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
75.1°F
+22.6°F in Mesa, AZ
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
8.0 in
+3.7 in in Meridian, ID

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.21/gal
+22% in Mesa, AZ

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
15.2
+6% in Mesa, AZ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$24.74
+118% in Mesa, AZ

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.82
about equal
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$2.04
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$7.36
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.01
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / AZ)
6%
5.6%
+0.4 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
2.50%
+2.8 pp in ID

Meridian vs Mesa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Mesa?
Mesa, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,470 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Mesa?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $52,000 in Mesa.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Mesa?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Mesa under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).