Cost of living index

Merced, CA

98.3 / 100

Living in Merced, CA is 1.7% cheaper than the US average — the #107 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,284/mo

Median home value: $368,400

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Merced, CA metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

58° / 40°F

(14° / 4°C)

7 in precip

Spring

75° / 49°F

(24° / 9°C)

3.4 in precip

Summer

93° / 61°F

(34° / 16°C)

0.2 in precip

Fall

78° / 51°F

(26° / 11°C)

1.7 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from MODESTO CITY CO AP, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Merced, CA

The Merced, CA metro area has an overall price level of 98.3 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 1.7% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 78.6 it is 21.4% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#107 of 387

98.3

Goods#24 of 387

105.2

Housing rents#194 of 387

78.6

Utilities#11 of 387

158.3

Other services#51 of 387

100.3

Merced, CA is moved up the most by utilities, at 158.3 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is other services.

How Merced, CA compares

Other metros in California

Bakersfield, CA100.9 Chico, CA101.2 El Centro, CA95.2 Fresno, CA102.2 Hanford, CA101.6 Los Angeles, CA113.6 Modesto, CA104.1 Napa, CA112.6

See all 25 metros in California →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Merced, CA an expensive place to live?

Merced, CA has an overall cost-of-living index of 98.3, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 1.7% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Merced, CA?

Housing rents in Merced, CA score 78.6 against a US average of 100 — roughly 21.4% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Merced, CA compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Merced, CA sit at 98.3 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 78.6. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.