Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Merced, CA is 15.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 31.4% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Merced, CA is 38.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 37.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.02 $20.02
$25.11 $25.11
-20.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.51 $40.51
$118 $118
-65.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.54 $11.54
$13.84 $13.84
-16.62%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$5.8 $5.8
-2.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.95 $2.95
0.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.51 $2.51
-18.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.09 $9.09
$7.81 $7.81
16.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.08 $10.08
$7.84 $7.84
28.57%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.34 $1.34
-8.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.7 $2.7
$4.98 $4.98
-45.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$5.35 $5.35
-40.37%
Eggs
$5.04 $5.04
$6.91 $6.91
-27.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.06 $11.06
$24.8 $24.8
-55.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$15.74 $15.74
-3.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.42 $17.42
$20.84 $20.84
-16.41%
Apples (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$6.05 $6.05
-6.12%
Banana (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.75 $2.75
-8.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$5.47 $5.47
-73.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$6.45 $6.45
-33.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 $2.07
$3.11 $3.11
-33.44%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.69 $3.69
-11.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.78 $2.78
-63.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 $2.79
$2.52 $2.52
10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.18 $10.18
$11.64 $11.64
-12.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.56 $18.56
$17.15 $17.15
8.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.94 $2.94
-23.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 $3.27
$4.19 $4.19
-21.96%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.8 $2.8
-45.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.3 $59.3
$101 $101
-41.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.68 $2.68
13.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.65 $1.65
4.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.68 $26.68
$30.13 $30.13
-11.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.16 $1.16
8.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30K $30K
$33.3K $33.3K
-9.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$26.3K $26.3K
3.72%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 $278
$271 $271
2.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.23 $35.23
$61.8 $61.8
-43.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$75.2 $75.2
-10.87%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.04 $33.04
$78.4 $78.4
-57.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83 $13.83
$41.04 $41.04
-66.30%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 $15.63
$15.89 $15.89
-1.64%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,959 $1,959
$2,248 $2,248
-12.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.3K $26.3K
$29K $29K
-9.28%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 $53.8
$69.5 $69.5
-22.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.27 $44.27
$52.5 $52.5
-15.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 $89.3
$120 $120
-25.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$137 $137
$142 $142
-3.60%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,593 $1,593
$2,376 $2,376
-32.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,099 $1,099
$1,829 $1,829
-39.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$4,702 $4,702
-58.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,917 $1,917
$3,474 $3,474
-44.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,947 $2,947
$6,928 $6,928
-57.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,902 $2,902
$5,224 $5,224
-44.45%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Merced, CA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,525 $3,525
$6,473 $6,473
-45.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.42
-0.93%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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