Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 27% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
Salem, OR

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$1,075
+29% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$989
+36% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$1,337
+10% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,778
+6% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$382,400
+21% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$71,900
+27% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$55,310
+13% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
35.7 yr
+1.7 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
76.1%
55.7%
+20.4 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
31.4%
+13.0 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
22.3 min
22.4 min
+0.1 min in Salem, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
540.6
+260% in Salem, OR
Property Crime
583.5
2,878.6
+393% in Salem, OR

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
53.0°F
+0.5°F in Salem, OR
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
39.7 in
+27.9 in in Salem, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.21/gal
+22% in Salem, OR

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
16.3
+14% in Salem, OR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$21.60
+91% in Salem, OR

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 / OR)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
9.90%
+4.6 pp in OR

Meridian vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Salem?
Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Salem?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Salem?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).