Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Austin, TX

😐 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 12.1% more expensive than Austin, TX without rent, and 7.3% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 17.4% cheaper than Austin, TX without rent, and 12.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$19.64 $19.64

1.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.51 $40.51

$76.2 $76.2

-46.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 $11.54

$9.95 $9.95

15.98%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.61 $5.61

0.89%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.64 $2.64

12.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.19 $2.19

-6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.09 $9.09

$5.84 $5.84

55.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.08 $10.08

$7.92 $7.92

27.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.13 $1.13

8.85%

White Bread (500g)

$2.7 $2.7

$3.3 $3.3

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.5 $3.5

-8.86%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$4.4 $4.4

14.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$12 $12

-7.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$10.68 $10.68

42.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.73 $14.73

18.26%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$4.88 $4.88

16.39%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.52 $1.52

66.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$4.53 $4.53

-67.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.92 $3.92

9.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$2.72 $2.72

-23.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.76 $2.76

18.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.01 $2.01

-49.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$8.86 $8.86

14.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.56 $18.56

$14.96 $14.96

24.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$2.34 $2.34

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$3.44 $3.44

-4.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.48 $1.48

2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$42.82 $42.82

38.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$4.3 $4.3

-29.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.82 $1.82

-5.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.68 $26.68

$34.63 $34.63

-22.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.73 $0.73

72.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30K $30K

$25.5K $25.5K

17.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K $27.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

3.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$278 $278

$177 $177

57.53%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.23 $35.23

$58.9 $58.9

-40.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$64.8 $64.8

3.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 $33.04

$62.6 $62.6

-47.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.83 $13.83

$10.17 $10.17

35.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.63 $15.63

$14.72 $14.72

6.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,959 $1,959

$1,378 $1,378

42.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.3K $26.3K

$22.4K $22.4K

17.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$56.3 $56.3

-4.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.27 $44.27

$46.46 $46.46

-4.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$86.7 $86.7

3.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$119 $119

15.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$2,188 $2,188

-27.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,099 $1,099

$1,395 $1,395

-21.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 $1,963

$3,896 $3,896

-49.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$2,689 $2,689

-28.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,947 $2,947

$4,414 $4,414

-33.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,902 $2,902

$3,161 $3,161

-8.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,525 $3,525

$4,871 $4,871

-27.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.45

-1.40%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Austin, TX: October 28, 2025

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