Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Tacoma?

Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $53,000 in Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Tacoma?

Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Meridian vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Tacoma, WA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 15% 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

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,523

$1,178

+23% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,540

$1,332

+14% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,489

$1,693

+14% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,893

$2,094

+11% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$485,000

$454,600

+6% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$98,686

$83,857

+15% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$72,610

+48% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.4 yr

37.3 yr

+0.1 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

76.1%

56.5%

+19.6 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.4%

33.5%

+10.9 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

22.3 min

29.0 min

+6.7 min in Tacoma, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

150.3

1,064.4

+608% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

583.5

5,695.2

+876% in Tacoma, 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

52.1°F

+0.4°F in Meridian, ID

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

43.0 in

+31.3 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$5.26/gal

+23% in Tacoma, WA

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

14.9

+4% in Tacoma, WA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$21.34

+88% in Tacoma, WA

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 / WA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

None

+5.3 pp in ID

Meridian vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Tacoma?: Tacoma, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,500 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Tacoma?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Tacoma?: Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Tacoma 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).