Meridian, ID vs Sparks, NV: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Meridian, ID and Sparks, NV have about the same overall cost index in our saved model.

Meridian, ID · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month
Sparks, NV · 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 Sparks, NV 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: $133/month in Sparks, NV

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,402 in Sparks, NV

Regional cost estimates: Meridian, ID uses Boise, ID. Sparks, NV uses Reno, NV. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 0.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$133

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.6K

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

Sparks, NV

Population:110K

Cost Index:

106.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$457K

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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.

Sparks, NV

The Silver State

110K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Nevada, this city has a population of 110K residents.

💡 Advantage: Nevada has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Meridian, ID vs Sparks, NV

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	Sparks, NV	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,734/mo	$2,414/mo	↓ $320less	11.7%
Transportation	$1,212/mo	$1,385/mo	↑ $173more	14.3%
Groceries	$896/mo	$942/mo	↑ $45.79more	5.1%
Other	$1,623/mo	$1,593/mo	↓ $30.78less	1.9%
Healthcare	$589/mo	$573/mo	↓ $16.84less	2.9%
All Utilities	$445/mo	$460/mo	↑ $15.57more	3.5%

Housing

↓ 11.7%

Meridian, ID

$2,734

Sparks, NV

$2,414

Difference

$320

less

Transportation

↑ 14.3%

Meridian, ID

$1,212

Sparks, NV

$1,385

Difference

$173

Groceries

↑ 5.1%

Meridian, ID

$896

Sparks, NV

$942

Difference

$45.79

Other

↓ 1.9%

Meridian, ID

$1,623

Sparks, NV

$1,593

Difference

$30.78

less

Healthcare

↓ 2.9%

Meridian, ID

$589

Sparks, NV

$573

Difference

$16.84

less

All Utilities

↑ 3.5%

Meridian, ID

$445

Sparks, NV

$460

Difference

$15.57

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,500

↑ $180

1 Bed

From$1,550

To$1,740

↑ $190

2 Bed

From$1,840

To$2,180

↑ $340

3 Bed

From$2,560

To$2,960

↑ $400

Meridian, IDZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,550–$1,550/mo

Sparks, NVZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,960/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

$7,367

Monthly in Sparks, NV

$133

Difference

Home Values

Meridian

Sparks

$520K

Median Value

$457K

↑ +0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -1%

↑ +25.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +26.6%

$520K

Price Range

$385K - $559K

Homes in Sparks are 12% less expensive than Meridian

Calculate payment - Meridian Calculate payment - Sparks

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $16.2K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$1,353

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

10.8%

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

Sparks, NV

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Nevada State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Meridian, ID Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%

Property Tax:0.7%

Sparks, NV Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%

Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Sparks

44 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

62.8%

Good Air Days

51.4%

88 Moderate

Climate Risk

97 High

🔥💨

Top Hazards

🔥🌊🫨

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.9°F

49 days

Heat Days >95°F

46 days

Before moving from Meridian, ID to Sparks, NV

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Sparks, NV 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 Sparks moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Meridian, ID vs Sparks, NV

How do the cost estimates for Meridian, ID and Sparks, NV compare?

Meridian, ID and Sparks, NV have about the same overall cost index in our saved model. 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 $148,402 in Sparks, NV. 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 Sparks, NV?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,840/month in Meridian, ID and $2,180/month in Sparks, NV. 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 Nevada on TaxTakeHome.com