Meridian, ID vs Fort Collins, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fort Collins, CO has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower than Meridian, ID.

Meridian, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month
Fort Collins, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $1,645 / 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 Fort Collins, CO 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 savings: $256/month in Fort Collins, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,930 in Fort Collins, CO

Regional cost estimates: Meridian, ID uses Boise, ID. Fort Collins, CO uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$256

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.1K

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

Fort Collins, CO

Population:170K

Cost Index:

103.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$542K

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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.

Fort Collins, CO

The Centennial State

170K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 170K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Meridian, ID vs Fort Collins, CO

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	Fort Collins, CO	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,734/mo	$2,519/mo	↓ $215less	7.9%
Other	$1,623/mo	$1,529/mo	↓ $94.21less	5.8%
Transportation	$1,212/mo	$1,260/mo	↑ $47.37more	3.9%
Healthcare	$589/mo	$561/mo	↓ $28.36less	4.8%
Groceries	$896/mo	$914/mo	↑ $17.98more	2.0%
All Utilities	$445/mo	$461/mo	↑ $16.01more	3.6%

Housing

↓ 7.9%

Meridian, ID

$2,734

Fort Collins, CO

$2,519

Difference

$215

less

Other

↓ 5.8%

Meridian, ID

$1,623

Fort Collins, CO

$1,529

Difference

$94.21

less

Transportation

↑ 3.9%

Meridian, ID

$1,212

Fort Collins, CO

$1,260

Difference

$47.37

Healthcare

↓ 4.8%

Meridian, ID

$589

Fort Collins, CO

$561

Difference

$28.36

less

Groceries

↑ 2.0%

Meridian, ID

$896

Fort Collins, CO

$914

Difference

$17.98

All Utilities

↑ 3.6%

Meridian, ID

$445

Fort Collins, CO

$461

Difference

$16.01

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,435

↑ $115

1 Bed

From$1,550

To$1,455

↓ $95.00

2 Bed

From$1,840

To$1,645

↓ $195

3 Bed

From$2,560

To$2,270

↓ $290

Meridian, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,550–$1,550/mo

Fort Collins, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,400–$1,690/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

$7,244

Monthly in Fort Collins, CO

$256

Difference

Home Values

Meridian

Fort Collins

$520K

Median Value

$542K

↑ +0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -1.3%

↑ +25.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +23.2%

$520K

Price Range

$509K - $574K

Homes in Fort Collins are 4% more expensive than Meridian

Calculate payment - Meridian Calculate payment - Fort Collins

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $9.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$803

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

6.4%

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

Fort Collins, CO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Colorado State Tax

Effective: 4.4%

$6.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.1%

$43.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,866/month

$106.4K

Additional Tax Information

Meridian, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

Fort Collins, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

💡 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

Fort Collins

44 Good

Air Quality

55 Moderate

62.8%

Good Air Days

35.2%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

95 High

🔥💨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Meridian, ID to Fort Collins, CO

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fort Collins, CO 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 Fort Collins moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fort Collins, CO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Meridian, ID vs Fort Collins, CO

How do the cost estimates for Meridian, ID and Fort Collins, CO compare?

Fort Collins, CO has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower 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 $146,930 in Fort Collins, CO. 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 Fort Collins, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,840/month in Meridian, ID and $1,645/month in Fort Collins, CO. 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 Colorado on TaxTakeHome.com