City Comparison

Meridian vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Meridian

Idaho
120
Above Average
$509,000
Median Home
$1,725/mo
Median Rent
$99,700
Median Income

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

13.7%

Meridian is 13.7% less expensive than Roseville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Meridian would need approximately $86,875 in Roseville to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
154
Meridian
179
Roseville
Groceries
104
Meridian
105
Roseville
Utilities
86
Meridian
163
Roseville
Transportation
113
Meridian
134
Roseville
Healthcare
103
Meridian
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Meridian has the same purchasing power as $86,875 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $64,748 in Meridian.

Living in Meridian vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Meridian's housing index of 154 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $509,000 vs $625,000. The $116,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Meridian compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Meridian and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Meridian vs $499/month in Roseville. 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 86 in Meridian and 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $344 in Meridian vs $652 in Roseville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Meridian and 106 in Roseville. 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 $99,700 in Meridian and $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,083 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,326/month to housing in Meridian vs $3,332/month in Roseville. In Meridian, median rent of $1,725/mo fits within this budget. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Meridian is 13.7% more affordable overall with an index of 120 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Meridian has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,875 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Meridian's housing index is 154 with median homes at $509,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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