Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Saint Paul, MN Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Saint Paul, MN

😐 Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 23.5% more expensive than Saint Paul, MN without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Merced, CA is 27.1% cheaper than Saint Paul, MN without rent, and 9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.02 $20.02

$18.11 $18.11

10.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.51 $40.51

$66.4 $66.4

-38.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.54 $11.54

$10.02 $10.02

15.17%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$5.06 $5.06

11.86%

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

$2.97 $2.97

$2.82 $2.82

5.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.37 $2.37

-13.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.09 $9.09

$5.85 $5.85

55.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.08 $10.08

$7.12 $7.12

41.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.02 $1.02

20.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.7 $2.7

$4.28 $4.28

-36.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$3.95 $3.95

-19.24%

Eggs

$5.04 $5.04

$3.31 $3.31

52.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 $11.06

$9.11 $9.11

21.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$11.87 $11.87

28.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$14.1 $14.1

23.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$5.13 $5.13

10.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.17 $1.17

116.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$5.77 $5.77

-74.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$5.27 $5.27

-18.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.97 $3.97

-47.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$3.72 $3.72

-12.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 $1.02

$2.05 $2.05

-50.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.99 $1.99

40.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 $10.18

$10.3 $10.3

-1.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.56 $18.56

$13.91 $13.91

33.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.75 $1.75

29.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 $3.27

$4.53 $4.53

-27.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.31 $2.31

-34.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.3 $59.3

$119 $119

-50.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$4.91 $4.91

-38.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.44 $1.44

19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.68 $26.68

$29.5 $29.5

-9.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$0.86 $0.86

46.51%

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

$30K $30K

$34.9K $34.9K

-14.05%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

8.31%

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

$278 $278

$219 $219

27.14%

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

$35.23 $35.23

$47.85 $47.85

-26.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67 $67

$73.5 $73.5

-8.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 $33.04

$41.39 $41.39

-20.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.83 $13.83

$9.99 $9.99

38.44%

Cinema Ticket

$15.63 $15.63

$13.88 $13.88

12.61%

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

$1,959 $1,959

$1,452 $1,452

34.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.3K $26.3K

$30.1K $30.1K

-12.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 $53.8

$39.48 $39.48

36.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.27 $44.27

$42.66 $42.66

3.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 $89.3

$83.8 $83.8

6.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$137 $137

$126 $126

8.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,593 $1,593

$1,249 $1,249

27.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,099 $1,099

$1,028 $1,028

6.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 $1,963

$2,202 $2,202

-10.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,917 $1,917

$2,212 $2,212

-13.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,947 $2,947

$2,857 $2,857

3.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,902 $2,902

$2,398 $2,398

21.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,525 $3,525

$4,170 $4,170

-15.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

6.43

-1.09%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Saint Paul, MN: October 28, 2025

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