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

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 33.1% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 78.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 83.2% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 105.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$20.02 $20.02
48.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$40.51 $40.51
255.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.54 $11.54
7.71%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.66 $5.66
3.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.97 $2.97
9.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.04 $2.04
26.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$9.09 $9.09
-9.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$10.08 $10.08
17.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.23 $1.23
26.83%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$2.7 $2.7
93.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$3.19 $3.19
154.23%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$5.04 $5.04
43.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$11.06 $11.06
54.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$15.24 $15.24
6.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$17.42 $17.42
14.93%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$5.68 $5.68
31.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.53 $2.53
0.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$1.47 $1.47
295.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$4.28 $4.28
52.34%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.07 $2.07
79.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.26 $3.26
19.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.02 $1.02
200.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.79 $2.79
-7.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$10.18 $10.18
88.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$18.56 $18.56
-4.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.26 $2.26
33.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.27 $3.27
13.76%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.52 $1.52
92.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$59.3 $59.3
125.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$3.04 $3.04
68.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.72 $1.72
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$26.68 $26.68
55.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.26 $1.26
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$30K $30K
16.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$27.2K $27.2K
1.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$278 $278
-35.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$35.23 $35.23
70.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$67 $67
-4.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$33.04 $33.04
325.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$13.83 $13.83
362.04%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.63 $15.63
27.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,959 $1,959
63.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$26.3K $26.3K
114.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$53.8 $53.8
22.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$44.27 $44.27
10.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$89.3 $89.3
24.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$137 $137
25.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$1,593 $1,593
161.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,099 $1,099
141.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$1,963 $1,963
328.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$1,917 $1,917
175.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$2,947 $2,947
430.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,902 $2,902
284.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Merced, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$3,525 $3,525
59.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.36
1.26%

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

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

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

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