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 58% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 80.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 82.6% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 101.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$19.79 $19.79

52.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$143 $143

$39.33 $39.33

262.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.73 $12.73

$11.36 $11.36

12.06%

Cappuccino

$6.01 $6.01

$5.76 $5.76

4.34%

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

$3.33 $3.33

$3.04 $3.04

9.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.04 $2.04

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.79 $8.79

-10.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.97 $11.97

$9.91 $9.91

20.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.19 $1.19

31.93%

White Bread (500g)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.81 $2.81

83.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.26 $8.26

$3.29 $3.29

151.06%

Eggs

$7.02 $7.02

$4.88 $4.88

43.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.49 $17.49

$10.82 $10.82

61.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.56 $16.56

$15.26 $15.26

8.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.39 $20.39

$17.83 $17.83

14.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 $7.37

$5.84 $5.84

26.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.45 $2.45

0.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$1.52 $1.52

273.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.50 $4.50

43.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.11 $2.11

82.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$3.40 $3.40

16.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.13 $3.13

$1.01 $1.01

209.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.88 $2.88

-13.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.78 $18.78

$9.92 $9.92

89.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.23 $18.23

$14.97 $14.97

21.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 $2.95

$2.26 $2.26

30.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.34 $3.34

11.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.47 $1.47

100.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$60.8 $60.8

116.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 $4.86

$2.94 $2.94

65.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.66 $1.66

31.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.87 $41.87

$27.32 $27.32

53.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.24 $1.24

-21.77%

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

$34.3K $34.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

14.62%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.6K $26.6K

5.67%

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

$182 $182

$273 $273

-33.20%

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

$60.7 $60.7

$34.81 $34.81

74.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 $62.5

$69.0 $69.0

-9.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$143 $143

$33.92 $33.92

320.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.5 $65.5

$13.81 $13.81

374.15%

Cinema Ticket

$19.78 $19.78

$15.41 $15.41

28.36%

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

$3,189 $3,189

$1,931 $1,931

65.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.1K $57.1K

$25.7K $25.7K

121.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.3 $67.3

$53.3 $53.3

26.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.64 $48.64

$43.62 $43.62

11.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 $113

$89.3 $89.3

26.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$172 $172

$137 $137

25.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,162 $4,162

$1,597 $1,597

160.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,667 $2,667

$1,100 $1,100

142.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,481 $8,481

$2,033 $2,033

317.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,161 $5,161

$1,919 $1,919

168.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$20.4K $20.4K

$2,842 $2,842

618.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,438 $9,438

$2,936 $2,936

221.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,201 $5,201

$3,311 $3,311

57.07%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: March 2, 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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