Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or West Valley City?

West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in West Valley City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $48,000 in West Valley City.

Which has lower taxes, Meridian or West Valley City?

Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Meridian vs West Valley City Cost of Living 2026

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, West Valley City, UT is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 10% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Meridian, ID

West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio

$1,523

$1,085

+29% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,540

$1,191

+23% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,489

$1,333

+10% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,893

$1,723

+9% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$485,000

$377,300

+22% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$98,686

$88,604

+10% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$55,240

+13% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.4 yr

30.3 yr

+7.1 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

76.1%

71.1%

+5.0 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.4%

15.7%

+28.7 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

22.3 min

22.2 min

+0.1 min in Meridian, ID

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

150.3

471.8

+214% in West Valley City, UT

Property Crime

583.5

1,855.5

+218% in West Valley City, UT

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

52.8°F

+0.3°F in West Valley City, UT

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

16.1 in

+4.4 in in West Valley City, UT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

about equal

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

13.4

+7% in Meridian, ID

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$11.84

+5% in West Valley City, UT

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 / UT)

6.1%

+0.1 pp in UT

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

4.50%

+0.8 pp in ID

Meridian vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or West Valley City?: West Valley City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in West Valley City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or West Valley City?: Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).