Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $62,917 in San Antonio, TX — about 36% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
San Antonio, TX

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$1,052
+31% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$1,084
+30% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$1,327
+11% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,545
+18% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$219,700
+55% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$62,917
+36% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$47,010
+4% in Meridian, ID

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
34.6 yr
+2.8 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
76.1%
52.4%
+23.7 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
28.7%
+15.7 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
22.3 min
24.6 min
+2.3 min in San Antonio, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
605.7
+303% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
583.5
4,665.7
+700% in San Antonio, TX

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
68.5°F
+16.0°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
34.9 in
+23.1 in in San Antonio, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.58/gal
+16% in Meridian, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.30

Adult base one-way fare — — vs VIA Metropolitan Transit (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
15.9
+11% in San Antonio, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$31.89
+181% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Meridian, ID
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Meridian, ID
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Meridian, ID
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Meridian, ID
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Meridian, ID

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (ID / TX)
6%
6.25%
+0.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Meridian vs San Antonio — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or San Antonio?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in San Antonio?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $43,000 in San Antonio.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or San Antonio?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); San Antonio under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).