Boise City, ID vs Meridian, ID

Boise City is moderately more affordable than Meridian, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Boise City scores 112 compared to 125 for Meridian, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Meridian can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boise City is $1,359/month compared to $1,714/month in Meridian — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Boise City is more affordable at $456,000 median vs $485,000.

Median household income in Boise City is $81,308 compared to $98,686 in Meridian (-17.6%). While Meridian is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boise City spend roughly 20.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.8% in Meridian.