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Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Indianapolis, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Indianapolis, IN

🙂 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 9% cheaper than Indianapolis, IN without rent, and 5.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 2% cheaper than Indianapolis, IN without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$24.99 $24.99
-20.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.05 $40.05
$73.6 $73.6
-45.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.30 $11.30
$10.80 $10.80
4.63%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$5.51 $5.51
6.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.76 $2.76
7.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$2.45 $2.45
-19.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.86 $8.86
$6.10 $6.10
45.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.13 $10.13
$8.09 $8.09
25.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$0.82 $0.82
43.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.91 $2.91
-4.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.17 $3.17
$5.26 $5.26
-39.73%
Eggs
$4.89 $4.89
$3.43 $3.43
42.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 $11.19
$9.07 $9.07
23.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.45 $15.45
$10.75 $10.75
43.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.29 $17.29
$14.30 $14.30
20.91%
Apples (1kg)
$5.67 $5.67
$5.02 $5.02
12.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.35 $1.35
82.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$5.72 $5.72
-74.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.29 $4.29
$3.07 $3.07
39.74%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$2.16 $2.16
-0.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.65 $2.65
27.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.85 $1.85
-45.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.13 $2.13
30.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.68 $9.68
$9.34 $9.34
3.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$15.73 $15.73
-6.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.70 $1.70
32.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.29 $2.29
45.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.79 $1.79
-15.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$61.1 $61.1
$59.2 $59.2
3.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.96 $1.96
48.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.67 $1.67
2.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.33 $27.33
$33.72 $33.72
-18.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.92 $0.92
34.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$34.3K $34.3K
-11.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$25.5K $25.5K
6.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$236 $236
16.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.06 $35.06
$63.3 $63.3
-44.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3 $69.3
$73.5 $73.5
-5.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.17 $33.17
$35.26 $35.26
-5.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.16 $14.16
$32.31 $32.31
-56.17%
Cinema Ticket
$15.33 $15.33
$14.52 $14.52
5.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,947 $1,947
$1,753 $1,753
11.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.0K $26.0K
$27.6K $27.6K
-5.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 $53.6
$47.89 $47.89
11.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.13 $44.13
$41.33 $41.33
6.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 $88.2
$99.0 $99.0
-10.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$130 $130
3.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,641 $1,641
$1,738 $1,738
-5.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 $1,084
$1,304 $1,304
-16.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 $2,020
$2,865 $2,865
-29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,926 $1,926
$2,068 $2,068
-6.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,937 $2,937
$2,530 $2,530
16.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,837 $2,837
$1,784 $1,784
59.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merced, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,292 $3,292
$4,165 $4,165
-20.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.54
-2.75%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: January 12, 2026

Last update for Indianapolis, IN: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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