What is the cost of living in Merced, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Merced has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Merced has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Merced ranks as #101 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Merced ranks as the #533 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Merced, check out:
Merced Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Merced. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Merced is 112.
The Groceries index in Merced is 117.
The Health index in Merced is 126.
The Housing index in Merced is 122.
The Transportation index in Merced is 125.
The Utilities index in Merced is 119.
| Living Expense | Merced | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 126 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 122 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 125 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 121 | 100 |
Merced Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Merced Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Merced, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Merced is $397,875.
The Median Rent in Merced is $1,393.
The Median Income in Merced is $63,122.
The Home Value To Income in Merced is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Merced is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Merced | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $397,875 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,393 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,122 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Merced, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Merced Services costs vs. California
| Item | Merced | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Merced Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Merced | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Merced Health costs vs. California
| Item | Merced | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Merced Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Merced | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Merced Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Merced | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Merced SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Merced
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Merced. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Atwater, CA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Merced.
Chowchilla, CA has a cost of living index of 113, 0.9x Merced.
Livingston, CA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.0x Merced.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Merced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atwater, CA | 32,162 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Chowchilla, CA | 19,020 | 113 | 0.9x |
| Livingston, CA | 14,606 | 119 | 1.0x |
| Winton, CA | 11,797 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Delhi, CA | 11,009 | 122 | 1.0x |
