Colorado Springs vs Meridian
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Colorado Springs
Meridian
The Verdict
Colorado Springs is 12.5% less expensive than Meridian overall. A household earning $75,000 in Colorado Springs would need approximately $85,714 in Meridian to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Colorado Springs has the same purchasing power as $85,714 in Meridian.
Conversely, $75,000 in Meridian equals $65,625 in Colorado Springs.
Living in Colorado Springs vs Meridian
Housing Costs
Colorado Springs's housing index of 115 is lower Meridian's 154, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $509,000. The $129,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,388 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Colorado Springs compared to $1,725/mo in Meridian, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Colorado Springs and 104 in Meridian. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Colorado Springs vs $494/month in Meridian. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Colorado Springs and 86 in Meridian. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Colorado Springs vs $344 in Meridian. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 104 in Colorado Springs and 103 in Meridian. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $64,712 in Colorado Springs and $99,700 in Meridian. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,630 and $83,083 respectively. Meridian residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,510/month to housing in Colorado Springs vs $2,326/month in Meridian. In Colorado Springs, median rent of $1,500/mo fits within this budget. In Meridian, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases