Living Cost Compare
Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

vs
Virginia Beach

Virginia

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Virginia Beach, VA. Overall, Virginia Beach, VA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $90,685 in Virginia Beach, VA — about 8% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID
Virginia Beach, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,523
$1,496
+2% in Meridian, ID
1 Bedroom
$1,540
$1,357
+12% in Meridian, ID
2 Bedroom
$1,489
$1,559
+5% in Virginia Beach, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,893
$1,857
+2% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$485,000
$366,300
+24% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income
$98,686
$90,685
+8% in Meridian, ID
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,100
$49,430
+1% in Virginia Beach, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
37.4 yr
37.4 yr
about equal
Homeownership
76.1%
64.9%
+11.2 pp in Meridian, ID
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.4%
40.4%
+4.0 pp in Meridian, ID
Avg Commute
22.3 min
23.2 min
+0.9 min in Virginia Beach, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
150.3
96.9
+36% in Meridian, ID
Property Crime
583.5
1,664.9
+185% in Virginia Beach, VA

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
59.9°F
+7.4°F in Virginia Beach, VA
Annual Precipitation
11.7 in
44.3 in
+32.6 in in Virginia Beach, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.94/gal
+8% in Meridian, ID

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs HRT (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
17.2
+20% in Virginia Beach, VA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.33
$27.20
+140% in Virginia Beach, VA

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 Virginia Beach, VA
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 / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in ID
Income Tax (top rate)
5.30%
5.75%
+0.5 pp in VA

Meridian vs Virginia Beach — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Virginia Beach?
Virginia Beach, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Virginia Beach?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $54,000 in Virginia Beach.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Virginia Beach?
Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Virginia Beach under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).