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 38.6% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 79.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 46.3% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 96.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.14 $30.14

$20.34 $20.34

48.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$39.79 $39.79

270.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.62 $12.62

$11.59 $11.59

8.89%

Cappuccino

$6.00 $6.00

$5.80 $5.80

3.45%

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

$3.35 $3.35

$2.94 $2.94

13.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 $2.58

$1.99 $1.99

29.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$8.78 $8.78

-6.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.99 $11.99

$9.97 $9.97

20.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.21 $1.21

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.81 $2.81

79.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.40 $8.40

$3.22 $3.22

160.87%

Eggs

$7.10 $7.10

$4.86 $4.86

46.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 $17.38

$11.11 $11.11

56.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.18 $16.18

$15.27 $15.27

5.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$17.60 $17.60

16.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.36 $7.36

$5.67 $5.67

29.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.43 $2.43

5.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$1.46 $1.46

291.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.24 $6.24

$4.43 $4.43

40.86%

Potato (1kg)

$3.87 $3.87

$2.07 $2.07

86.96%

Onion (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.36 $3.36

22.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$1.02 $1.02

197.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.84 $2.84

-10.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.07 $19.07

$9.92 $9.92

92.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.66 $19.66

$14.88 $14.88

32.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.32 $2.32

28.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.31 $3.31

13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.47 $1.47

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$131 $131

$59.1 $59.1

120.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$3.05 $3.05

66.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.64 $1.64

33.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.49 $41.49

$27.03 $27.03

53.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.21 $1.21

-19.01%

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

$34.5K $34.5K

$29.8K $29.8K

15.88%

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

$28.3K $28.3K

$26.6K $26.6K

6.19%

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

$184 $184

$280 $280

-34.13%

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

$59.0 $59.0

$35.03 $35.03

68.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$69.2 $69.2

-10.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$141 $141

$32.85 $32.85

327.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.3 $65.3

$14.09 $14.09

363.24%

Cinema Ticket

$20.13 $20.13

$15.38 $15.38

30.88%

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

$3,191 $3,191

$1,974 $1,974

61.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$57.5K $57.5K

$26.1K $26.1K

120.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 $67.2

$52.5 $52.5

27.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.98 $47.98

$44.13 $44.13

8.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$111 $111

$86.5 $86.5

28.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$136 $136

24.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,207 $4,207

$1,643 $1,643

156.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 $2,717

$1,083 $1,083

150.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$8,382 $8,382

$1,981 $1,981

323.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,127 $5,127

$1,860 $1,860

175.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.5K $19.5K

$2,906 $2,906

572.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,862 $8,862

$2,873 $2,873

208.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,228 $5,228

$3,290 $3,290

58.93%

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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: April 14, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

New York, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

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