Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 24.9% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 43.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 45.4% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 51.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.02 $20.02
$29.68 $29.68
-32.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.51 $40.51
$144 $144
-71.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 $11.54
$12.43 $12.43
-7.16%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$5.84 $5.84
-3.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$3.26 $3.26
-8.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.58 $2.58
-20.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.09 $9.09
$8.24 $8.24
10.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.08 $10.08
$11.86 $11.86
-15.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.56 $1.56
-21.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.7 $2.7
$5.23 $5.23
-48.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$8.11 $8.11
-60.67%
Eggs
$5.04 $5.04
$7.25 $7.25
-30.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 $11.06
$17.08 $17.08
-35.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$16.24 $16.24
-6.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.42 $17.42
$20.02 $20.02
-12.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$7.49 $7.49
-24.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.55 $2.55
-0.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$5.82 $5.82
-74.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$6.52 $6.52
-34.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$3.72 $3.72
-44.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.9 $3.9
-16.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 $1.02
$3.07 $3.07
-66.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.57 $2.57
8.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 $10.18
$19.21 $19.21
-47.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.56 $18.56
$17.79 $17.79
4.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$3.01 $3.01
-24.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$3.72 $3.72
-12.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.92 $2.92
-47.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.3 $59.3
$134 $134
-55.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$5.13 $5.13
-40.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$2.15 $2.15
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.68 $26.68
$41.57 $41.57
-35.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.95 $0.95
32.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$35K $35K
-14.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$27.7K $27.7K
-1.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 $278
$179 $179
55.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.23 $35.23
$60 $60
-41.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$63.8 $63.8
4.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.04 $33.04
$141 $141
-76.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83 $13.83
$63.9 $63.9
-78.36%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 $15.63
$19.9 $19.9
-21.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$3,206 $3,206
-38.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K $26.3K
$56.5K $56.5K
-53.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$65.7 $65.7
-18.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27 $44.27
$48.75 $48.75
-9.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$111 $111
-19.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$172 $172
-20.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 $1,593
$4,165 $4,165
-61.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,099 $1,099
$2,653 $2,653
-58.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$8,412 $8,412
-76.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$5,277 $5,277
-63.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,947 $2,947
$15.6K $15.6K
-81.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,902 $2,902
$11.2K $11.2K
-73.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Merced, CA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,525 $3,525
$5,616 $5,616
-37.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.44
-1.24%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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