Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Reno?

Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $48,000 in Reno.

Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Reno?

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

Meridian vs Reno Cost of Living 2026

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Reno

Nevada

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 21% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID

Reno, NV

Rent

Studio

$1,523

$964

+37% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,540

$1,206

+22% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,489

$1,518

+2% in Reno, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,893

$1,885

+0% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$485,000

$498,600

+3% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$98,686

$78,448

+21% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$49,660

+1% in Reno, NV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.4 yr

37.3 yr

+0.1 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

76.1%

49.4%

+26.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.4%

35.7%

+8.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

22.3 min

20.6 min

+1.7 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

150.3

528.9

+252% in Reno, NV

Property Crime

583.5

2,489.3

+327% in Reno, NV

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

53.8°F

+1.3°F in Reno, NV

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

7.4 in

+4.3 in in Meridian, ID

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.21/gal

+22% in Reno, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

13.1

+9% in Meridian, ID

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$13.83

+22% in Reno, 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 (ID / NV)

6.85%

+0.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

None

+5.3 pp in ID

Meridian vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Reno?: Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Reno?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Reno?: Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).