La Junta, CO vs Meridian Village, CO

The cost of living difference between La Junta, CO and Meridian Village, CO is dramatic. La Junta is 62.7% cheaper than Meridian Village, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. La Junta has a cost index of 72 while Meridian Village sits at 193, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in La Junta is $709/month compared to $3,125/month in Meridian Village — a 77% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: La Junta is more affordable at $180,700 median vs $742,800.

Median household income in La Junta is $54,253 compared to $198,707 in Meridian Village (-72.7%). While Meridian Village is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of La Junta spend roughly 15.7% of their income on rent, less than the 18.9% in Meridian Village.