Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
Spokane

Washington

$1,070/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 $1,070 in Spokane, WA. Overall, Spokane, WA 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 $65,745 in Spokane, WA — about 33% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
Spokane, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$884
+42% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$903
+41% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$1,192
+20% in Meridian, ID
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,442
+24% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$326,200
+33% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$65,745
+33% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$54,660
+11% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
37.2 yr
+0.2 yr in Meridian, ID
Homeownership
76.1%
58.3%
+17.8 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
32.6%
+11.8 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
22.3 min
21.2 min
+1.1 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
683.6
+355% in Spokane, WA
Property Crime
583.5
4,931.8
+745% in Spokane, WA

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
48.9°F
+3.6°F in Meridian, ID
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
17.8 in
+6.1 in in Spokane, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$5.26/gal
+23% in Spokane, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
14.9
+4% in Spokane, WA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$21.34
+88% in Spokane, WA

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 / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
None
+5.3 pp in ID

Meridian vs Spokane — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Spokane?
Spokane, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,070 (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 Spokane?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $36,000 in Spokane.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Spokane?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Spokane under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).