Merced, CA vs Greeley, CO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Greeley, CO has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower than Merced, CA.

Merced, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,840 / month
Greeley, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $1,680 / 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 Merced, CA and Greeley, CO 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 Merced, CA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $11.01/month in Greeley, CO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,132 in Greeley, CO

Regional cost estimates: Merced, CA uses Modesto, CA. Greeley, CO uses Denver, CO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$11.01

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$132

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.

Merced, CA

Population:94K

Cost Index:

106.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$409K

Greeley, CO

Population:113K

Cost Index:

103.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$442K

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Merced, CA

The Golden State

94K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Greeley, CO

The Centennial State

113K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 113K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Merced, CA vs Greeley, CO

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	Merced, CA	Greeley, CO	Difference	Change
Healthcare	$469/mo	$582/mo	↑ $112more	24.0%
Groceries	$1,018/mo	$947/mo	↓ $71.05less	7.0%
Transportation	$1,360/mo	$1,306/mo	↓ $54.29less	4.0%
Housing	$2,567/mo	$2,613/mo	↑ $46.01more	1.8%
All Utilities	$496/mo	$478/mo	↓ $17.78less	3.6%
Other	$1,590/mo	$1,586/mo	↓ $4.31less	0.3%

Healthcare

↑ 24.0%

Merced, CA

$469

Greeley, CO

$582

Difference

$112

Groceries

↓ 7.0%

Merced, CA

$1,018

Greeley, CO

$947

Difference

$71.05

less

Transportation

↓ 4.0%

Merced, CA

$1,360

Greeley, CO

$1,306

Difference

$54.29

less

Housing

↑ 1.8%

Merced, CA

$2,567

Greeley, CO

$2,613

Difference

$46.01

All Utilities

↓ 3.6%

Merced, CA

$496

Greeley, CO

$478

Difference

$17.78

less

Other

↓ 0.3%

Merced, CA

$1,590

Greeley, CO

$1,586

Difference

$4.31

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,370

To$1,260

↓ $110

1 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,330

↓ $150

2 Bed

From$1,840

To$1,680

↓ $160

3 Bed

From$2,530

To$2,340

↓ $190

Merced, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

Greeley, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,330–$1,330/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 Merced, CA

$7,511

Monthly in Greeley, CO

$11.01

Difference

Home Values

Merced

Greeley

$409K

Median Value

$442K

↓ -2.3%

YoY Change

↓ -1.6%

↑ +30.4%

5-Year Change

↑ +19.7%

Homes in Greeley are 8% more expensive than Merced

Calculate payment - Merced Calculate payment - Greeley

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $4.0K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$336

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

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

Greeley, CO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Colorado State Tax

Effective: 4.4%

$6.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.1%

$43.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,866/month

$106.4K

Additional Tax Information

Merced, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

Greeley, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

💡 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

Merced

Greeley

53 Moderate

Air Quality

55 Moderate

45.4%

Good Air Days

35.2%

97 High

Climate Risk

95 High

🌊☀🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌪💨

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

67 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

▲+2.4°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.3°F

67 days

Heat Days >95°F

28 days

Before moving from Merced, CA to Greeley, CO

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Greeley, CO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Merced, 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 Merced to Greeley moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Merced, CA vs Greeley, CO

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

Greeley, CO has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower than Merced, 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 Merced, CA, the model estimates $150,132 in Greeley, CO. 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 Merced, CA and Greeley, CO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,840/month in Merced, CA and $1,680/month in Greeley, CO. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between California and Colorado on TaxTakeHome.com