Coeur d'Alene, ID vs Meridian, ID

Coeur d'Alene is moderately more affordable than Meridian, with a 10.6% lower cost of living index. Coeur d'Alene scores 111 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 Coeur d'Alene is $1,328/month compared to $1,714/month in Meridian — a 23% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Coeur d'Alene is more affordable at $451,600 median vs $485,000.

Median household income in Coeur d'Alene is $70,845 compared to $98,686 in Meridian (-28.2%). 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 Coeur d'Alene spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, more than the 20.8% in Meridian.