Meridian, ID vs Fairfield, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fairfield, CA has a modeled overall cost index 45.4% higher than Meridian, ID.

Meridian, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month
Fairfield, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,180 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Meridian, ID and Fairfield, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Meridian, ID

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,270/month in Fairfield, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $189,239 in Fairfield, CA

Regional cost estimates: Meridian, ID uses Boise, ID. Fairfield, CA uses Oakland, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 45.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$3,270

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$39.2K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Meridian, ID

Population:135K

Cost Index:

106.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$520K

Fairfield, CA

Population:121K

Cost Index:

154.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$528K

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Meridian, ID

The Gem State

135K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Idaho, this city has a population of 135K residents.

Fairfield, CA

The Golden State

121K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 121K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Meridian, ID vs Fairfield, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Meridian, ID	Fairfield, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,734/mo	$5,277/mo	↑ $2,543more	93.0%
Transportation	$1,212/mo	$1,845/mo	↑ $632more	52.2%
Groceries	$896/mo	$1,025/mo	↑ $129more	14.4%
All Utilities	$445/mo	$396/mo	↓ $48.71less	10.9%
Healthcare	$589/mo	$625/mo	↑ $35.06more	5.9%
Other	$1,623/mo	$1,602/mo	↓ $20.98less	1.3%

Housing

↑ 93.0%

Meridian, ID

$2,734

Fairfield, CA

$5,277

Difference

$2,543

Transportation

↑ 52.2%

Meridian, ID

$1,212

Fairfield, CA

$1,845

Difference

$632

Groceries

↑ 14.4%

Meridian, ID

$896

Fairfield, CA

$1,025

Difference

$129

All Utilities

↓ 10.9%

Meridian, ID

$445

Fairfield, CA

$396

Difference

$48.71

less

Healthcare

↑ 5.9%

Meridian, ID

$589

Fairfield, CA

$625

Difference

$35.06

Other

↓ 1.3%

Meridian, ID

$1,623

Fairfield, CA

$1,602

Difference

$20.98

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,560

↑ $240

1 Bed

From$1,550

To$1,710

↑ $160

2 Bed

From$1,840

To$2,180

↑ $340

3 Bed

From$2,560

To$2,920

↑ $360

Meridian, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,550–$1,550/mo

Fairfield, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,710–$1,710/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Meridian, ID

$10,770

Monthly in Fairfield, CA

$3,270

Difference

Home Values

Meridian

Fairfield

$520K

Median Value

$528K

↑ +0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -3.3%

↑ +25.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +15.2%

Homes in Fairfield are 2% more expensive than Meridian

Calculate payment - Meridian Calculate payment - Fairfield

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $5.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$468

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

3.7%

Rate difference

Meridian, ID

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Idaho State Tax

Effective: 10.8%

$16.2K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 35.5%

$53.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,062/month

$96.7K

Fairfield, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Meridian, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

Fairfield, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Meridian

Fairfield

44 Good

Air Quality

49 Good

62.8%

Good Air Days

53%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

100 Very High

🔥💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🌅

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+1.9°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

2 days

Before moving from Meridian, ID to Fairfield, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fairfield, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Meridian, ID. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Meridian to Fairfield moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fairfield, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Meridian, ID vs Fairfield, CA

How do the cost estimates for Meridian, ID and Fairfield, CA compare?

Fairfield, CA has a modeled overall cost index 45.4% higher than Meridian, ID. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Meridian, ID, the model estimates $189,239 in Fairfield, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Meridian, ID and Fairfield, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,840/month in Meridian, ID and $2,180/month in Fairfield, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Idaho and California on TaxTakeHome.com