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

😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 18% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 45.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 62.9% more expensive than Merced, CA without rent, and 59.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.11 $25.11

$20.02 $20.02

25.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$40.51 $40.51

192.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.84 $13.84

$11.54 $11.54

19.93%

Cappuccino

$5.8 $5.8

$5.66 $5.66

2.47%

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

$2.95 $2.95

$2.97 $2.97

-0.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.04 $2.04

23.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$9.09 $9.09

-14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.84 $7.84

$10.08 $10.08

-22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.23 $1.23

8.94%

White Bread (500g)

$4.98 $4.98

$2.7 $2.7

84.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.35 $5.35

$3.19 $3.19

67.71%

Eggs

$6.91 $6.91

$5.04 $5.04

37.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$24.8 $24.8

$11.06 $11.06

124.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.74 $15.74

$15.24 $15.24

3.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.84 $20.84

$17.42 $17.42

19.63%

Apples (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$5.68 $5.68

6.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.53 $2.53

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.47 $5.47

$1.47 $1.47

272.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$4.28 $4.28

50.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.07 $2.07

50.24%

Onion (1kg)

$3.69 $3.69

$3.26 $3.26

13.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.02 $1.02

172.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$2.79 $2.79

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.64 $11.64

$10.18 $10.18

14.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.15 $17.15

$18.56 $18.56

-7.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.26 $2.26

30.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.19 $4.19

$3.27 $3.27

28.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.8 $2.8

$1.52 $1.52

84.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$59.3 $59.3

70.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$3.04 $3.04

-11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.72 $1.72

-4.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.13 $30.13

$26.68 $26.68

12.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.26 $1.26

-7.94%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$30K $30K

10.98%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-3.59%

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

$271 $271

$278 $278

-2.56%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$35.23 $35.23

75.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.2 $75.2

$67 $67

12.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.4 $78.4

$33.04 $33.04

137.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.04 $41.04

$13.83 $13.83

196.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.89 $15.89

$15.63 $15.63

1.66%

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

$2,248 $2,248

$1,959 $1,959

14.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29K $29K

$26.3K $26.3K

10.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 $69.5

$53.8 $53.8

29.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.5 $52.5

$44.27 $44.27

18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 $120

$89.3 $89.3

33.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$137 $137

3.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,376 $2,376

$1,593 $1,593

49.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,099 $1,099

66.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,702 $4,702

$1,963 $1,963

139.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,474 $3,474

$1,917 $1,917

81.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,928 $6,928

$2,947 $2,947

135.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,224 $5,224

$2,902 $2,902

80.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,473 $6,473

$3,525 $3,525

83.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.36

0.94%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Merced, CA: October 27, 2025

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