Chico, CA vs Merced, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Merced, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Chico, CA.

Chico, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,710 / month
Merced, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Chico, CA and Merced, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Chico, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $119/month in Merced, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,432 in Merced, CA

Regional cost estimates: Chico, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Merced, CA uses Modesto, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 3.4%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$119

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$1.4K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Chico, CA

Population:101K

Cost Index:

102.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$449K

Merced, CA

Population:94K

Cost Index:

106.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$409K

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Chico, CA

The Golden State

101K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 101K residents.

Merced, CA

The Golden State

94K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 94K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Chico, CA vs Merced, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Chico, CA	Merced, CA	Difference	Change
Transportation	$1,199/mo	$1,382/mo	↑ $183more	15.3%
Housing	$2,784/mo	$2,607/mo	↓ $176less	6.3%
Other	$1,526/mo	$1,615/mo	↑ $89.28more	5.9%
Healthcare	$559/mo	$477/mo	↓ $81.91less	14.7%
Groceries	$955/mo	$1,034/mo	↑ $79.57more	8.3%
All Utilities	$478/mo	$503/mo	↑ $25.57more	5.4%

Transportation

↑ 15.3%

Chico, CA

$1,199

Merced, CA

$1,382

Difference

$183

Housing

↓ 6.3%

Chico, CA

$2,784

Merced, CA

$2,607

Difference

$176

less

Other

↑ 5.9%

Chico, CA

$1,526

Merced, CA

$1,615

Difference

$89.28

Healthcare

↓ 14.7%

Chico, CA

$559

Merced, CA

$477

Difference

$81.91

less

Groceries

↑ 8.3%

Chico, CA

$955

Merced, CA

$1,034

Difference

$79.57

All Utilities

↑ 5.4%

Chico, CA

$478

Merced, CA

$503

Difference

$25.57

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,220

To$1,370

↑ $150

1 Bed

From$1,340

To$1,480

↑ $140

2 Bed

From$1,710

To$1,840

↑ $130

3 Bed

From$2,380

To$2,530

↑ $150

Chico, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

Merced, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Chico, CA

$7,619

Monthly in Merced, CA

$119

Difference

Home Values

Chico

Merced

$449K

Median Value

$409K

↑ +0.6%

YoY Change

↓ -2.3%

↑ +8.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +30.4%

Homes in Merced are 9% less expensive than Chico

Calculate payment - Chico Calculate payment - Merced

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Chico, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Merced, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Chico, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Merced, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Chico

Merced

51 Moderate

Air Quality

53 Moderate

49.7%

Good Air Days

45.4%

98 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊☀🫨

Top Hazards

🌊☀🫨

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

67 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

69 days

Heat Days >95°F

67 days

Before moving from Chico, CA to Merced, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Merced, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Chico, CA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Chico to Merced moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Merced, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Chico, CA vs Merced, CA

How do the cost estimates for Chico, CA and Merced, CA compare?

Merced, CA has a modeled overall cost index 3.4% higher than Chico, CA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Chico, CA, the model estimates $151,432 in Merced, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Chico, CA and Merced, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,710/month in Chico, CA and $1,840/month in Merced, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.