Meridian, Idaho
Living in Meridian, Idaho is about 8% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 108 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,924 a month, about the same as the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.29 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 40% of the area's $88,907 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.29
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,924
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.25
Combo meal
Electricity
13.37¢
per kWh · ~$120/mo
Car Insurance
$121/mo
$1,450/yr
Median Household Income
$88,907
40.1% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,450 in Meridian. Compare rates:
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Some prices above are regional estimates. Submit a receipt from a local store to help us show what Meridian residents actually pay.
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Find Apartments
Avg rent $1,924/mo in Meridian. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.49 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.09 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.89 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026)
Bread (lb)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.79 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$1.79 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.49 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.09 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Bread (lb)$4.79 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.89 @ Fred Meyer - Meridian (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.25
Casual Dining
$24.00
Monthly Spend
$580
+4.2% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonalds
2022: $6.35
$8.55
+34.6%Wendys
2022: $9.65
$13.89
+43.9%Five Guys
2022: $18.75
$22.50
+20.0%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Meridian?
Average 1BR: $1,578/mo · 2BR: $2,270/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
288k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,357
$71k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$89k
household median
Employment by Sector — Meridian
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$64k/yr
~$64k/yr
~$87k/yr
~$26k/yr
~$76k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 16001
Highest Paying Sector
Construction
$2,466/wk · $128k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$509/wk · $26k/yr
Meridian Cost of Living FAQ
Is Meridian, ID expensive to live in?
Meridian has a cost of living index of 108, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 8% more expensive than average. It is the most expensive of the 8 Idaho cities we track.
What is the average rent in Meridian, ID?
Typical rent in Meridian is $1,924 a month for all home types as of September 2026, about the same as the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,578 and two bedrooms about $2,270. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Meridian?
Rent in Meridian rose 7.6% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Meridian?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.29 a gallon in Meridian as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Idaho. That is 8% above the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Meridian?
Homes in Idaho pay an average of 13.4 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Meridian is about $120.
How much is car insurance in Meridian?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,450 a year in Idaho, or about $121 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Meridian?
Median household income in the Meridian area is $88,907 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $35,670 a year, or 40% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,112 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Meridian compare with the rest of Idaho?
Rent in Meridian is 20% above the $1,604 average across the 8 Idaho cities we track, and its cost of living index of 108 compares with a state average of 94.
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