Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or St. Louis?

St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in St. Louis?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $35,000 in St. Louis.

Which has lower taxes, Meridian or St. Louis?

Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Meridian vs St. Louis Cost of Living 2026

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 44% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID

St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,523

$864

+43% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,540

$866

+44% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,489

$1,109

+26% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,893

$1,135

+40% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$485,000

$185,100

+62% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$98,686

$55,279

+44% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$49,990

+2% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.4 yr

36.6 yr

+0.8 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

76.1%

45.4%

+30.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.4%

40.2%

+4.2 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

22.3 min

22.2 min

+0.1 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

150.3

1,372.9

+813% in St. Louis, MO

Property Crime

583.5

5,794.9

+893% in St. Louis, MO

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

55.7°F

+3.2°F in St. Louis, MO

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

40.9 in

+29.2 in in St. Louis, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.85/gal

+10% in Meridian, ID

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

16.2

+13% in St. Louis, MO

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$28.78

+154% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Meridian, ID

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Meridian, ID

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in St. Louis, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Meridian, ID

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in St. Louis, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Meridian, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / MO)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

4.70%

+0.6 pp in ID

Meridian vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or St. Louis?: St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in St. Louis?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or St. Louis?: Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).