Merced, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Merced, CA Summary

Cost of living in Merced research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Merced is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Merced is 101, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Merced is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Merced ranks as the #41 cheapest in California out of 635.

  • Merced ranks as the #3,263 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Merced is $268,600.

  • The median income in Merced is $52,305.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
101
Merced's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

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 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Merced has a cost of living index that's 0.7x lower than California's index of 139.

The standard of living in Merced ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 635 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Merced ranks as the #594 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Merced, check out:

41 out of 635
In California
3,263 out of 6,412
In America

Merced Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Merced. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Merced is 88.

  • The Groceries index in Merced is 103.

  • The Health index in Merced is 113.

  • The Housing index in Merced is 92.

  • The Transportation index in Merced is 111.

  • The Utilities index in Merced is 130.

Living Expense Merced California National Average
Overall 101 139 100
Services 88 110 100
Groceries 103 112 100
Health 113 109 100
Housing 92 204 100
Transportation 111 126 100
Utilities 130 124 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Merced Cost of Living Vs. CA

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 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Merced is $268,600.

  • The Median Rent in Merced is $1,127.

  • The Median Income in Merced is $52,305.

  • The Home Value To Income in Merced is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Merced is 0.26x.

Statistic Merced California United States
Median Home Value $268,600 $573,200 $244,900
Median Rent $1,127 $1,698 $1,163
Median Income $52,305 $84,097 $69,021
Home Value To Income 5.1x 6.8x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.24x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Merced, CA
$268,600
Median Home Value
$1,127
Median Rent
$52,305
Median Income

Merced, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Merced Services Costs Vs. California

Item Merced California
Shampoo $1.06 $1.06
Movie $15.05 $10.68
Bowling $18.25 $14.67
Haircut $27.5 $18.62
Beauty Salon $50.52 $39.05

Detailed Merced Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Merced California
Ground Beef $4.36 $4.22
Fried Chicken $2.03 $1.39
Milk $2.27 $2.05
Potatoes $3.2 $3.29
Pizza $10.74 $10.62
Beer $8.99 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.52 $2.34

Detailed Merced Health Costs Vs. California

Item Merced California
Optometrist $127.0 $108.57
Doctor $148.0 $116.17
Dentist $99.6 $99.13

Detailed Merced Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Merced California
Gasoline $3.24 $2.22
Tire Balancing $45.0 $50.07

Detailed Merced Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Merced California
All Electricity $260.15 $167.67
Phone $173.87 $175.64

Merced SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
8
Affordability
4
Diversity
9
Safety
4
Amenities
9.5
Education
4
Commute
6

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 99, 1.0x Merced.

  • Chowchilla, CA has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Merced.

  • Livingston, CA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Merced.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Merced
Atwater, CA 31,401 99 1.0x
Chowchilla, CA 18,826 99 1.0x
Livingston, CA 14,078 101 1.0x
Winton, CA 11,623 94 0.9x
Delhi, CA 10,921 96 1.0x

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