2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Bartow, FL vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Bartow?
- Merced is 19.1% more expensive than Bartow.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Bartow?
- Merced housing costs are 68.4% more expensive than Bartow housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Bartow or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 20.2% more in Merced.
 Bartow, FLMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries102.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing65.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities105  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous79.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Bartow    4 Reviews

I lived in Bartow for a year and a half before moving to Lakeland. The town seems so oppressed. The housing market is costly–$140,000 is the average price for a brick  More

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The city council in this town need to get a grip on reality and understand that they work for the people who pay their taxes. The city ordinance that prevents property  More

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I find the city ordinance that does not allow homeowners to place small signs in their yards stating essentially "god bless the USA" utterly ridiculous. As a proud  More

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Reviews for Merced    44 Reviews

Merced is totally slept on - you want a little bit of everything CA has to offer, at a fraction of the price of other CA cities? Merced is the place to go. The town  More

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Over 5 years ago

Good place to live. More affordable than most of california. The city is growing and there is alot of business and growth here. Moved from the Bay area years ago and  More

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Great place to live. Lots of progress and changes coming to the city. Great place to raise a family. UC Merced is expanding and businesses are investing. Downtown is  More

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