Three Rivers, MI vs Merrill, WI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Merrill, WI has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Three Rivers, MI.

Three Rivers, MI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,010 / month
Merrill, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / 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 Three Rivers, MI and Merrill, WI 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $532/month in Merrill, WI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,385 in Merrill, WI

Regional cost estimates: Three Rivers, MI uses Fort Wayne, IN. Merrill, WI uses Madison, WI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 6.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$532
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.4K
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.

Three Rivers, MI

Population:8K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$216K

Merrill, WI

Population:9K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$207K

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Three Rivers, MI

The Great Lakes State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Merrill, WI

The Badger State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Three Rivers, MI vs Merrill, WI

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.

Housing
↑ 27.1%
Three Rivers, MI
$1,936
Merrill, WI
$2,462
Difference
$526
more
Healthcare
↑ 13.1%
Three Rivers, MI
$696
Merrill, WI
$787
Difference
$91.01
more
Groceries
↓ 4.4%
Three Rivers, MI
$1,099
Merrill, WI
$1,051
Difference
$48.20
less
All Utilities
↓ 7.4%
Three Rivers, MI
$601
Merrill, WI
$557
Difference
$44.31
less
Other
↑ 0.9%
Three Rivers, MI
$1,762
Merrill, WI
$1,779
Difference
$16.55
more
Transportation
↓ 0.6%
Three Rivers, MI
$1,406
Merrill, WI
$1,397
Difference
$8.44
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$720
To$730
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$770
To$750
↓ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,010
To$970
↓ $40.00
3 Bed
From$1,370
To$1,350
↓ $20.00
Three Rivers, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $770–$770/mo

Merrill, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/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 Three Rivers, MI
$8,032
Monthly in Merrill, WI
$532
Difference

Home Values

Three Rivers
Merrill
$216K
Median Value
$207K
↑ +3.2%
YoY Change
↑ +4.3%
↑ +28.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +36.2%

Homes in Merrill are 4% less expensive than Three Rivers

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $2.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$206
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.6%
Rate difference

Three Rivers, MI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Michigan State Tax
Effective: 4.3%
$6.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 28.9%
$43.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,884/month
$106.6K

Merrill, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

Additional Tax Information

Three Rivers, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:1.4%

Merrill, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Three Rivers
Merrill
45 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
62.6%
Good Air Days
72.1%
91 Moderate
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
10 days

Before moving from Three Rivers, MI to Merrill, WI

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Merrill, WI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Three Rivers, MI. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Three Rivers to Merrill moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Three Rivers, MI vs Merrill, WI

How do the cost estimates for Three Rivers, MI and Merrill, WI compare?

Merrill, WI has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% higher than Three Rivers, MI. 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 Three Rivers, MI, the model estimates $156,385 in Merrill, WI. 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 Three Rivers, MI and Merrill, WI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,010/month in Three Rivers, MI and $970/month in Merrill, WI. 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 Michigan and Wisconsin on TaxTakeHome.com

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