Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Wilmington?

Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Meridian vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Meridian

Idaho

$1,690/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Meridian, ID, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,686 in Meridian, ID and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 44% higher in Meridian, ID. Idaho has a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Meridian, ID

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,523

$1,103

+28% in Meridian, ID

1 Bedroom

$1,540

$1,024

+34% in Meridian, ID

2 Bedroom

$1,489

$1,213

+19% in Meridian, ID

3 Bedroom

$1,893

$1,394

+26% in Meridian, ID

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$485,000

$224,500

+54% in Meridian, ID

Income

Median Household Income

$98,686

$55,269

+44% in Meridian, ID

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,100

$54,310

+11% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.4 yr

37.0 yr

+0.4 yr in Meridian, ID

Homeownership

76.1%

46.0%

+30.1 pp in Meridian, ID

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.4%

33.1%

+11.3 pp in Meridian, ID

Avg Commute

22.3 min

23.0 min

+0.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

150.3

1,138.2

+657% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

583.5

3,182.4

+445% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+2.4°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

11.7 in

43.1 in

+31.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Meridian, ID

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

19.3

+34% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.33

$29.73

+162% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

None

+6.0 pp in ID

Income Tax (top rate)

5.30%

6.60%

+1.3 pp in DE

Meridian vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Meridian or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Meridian, ID's $1,690, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Meridian than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $62,000 a year in Meridian versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Meridian or Wilmington?: Meridian is taxed under Idaho's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.30% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).