2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Fargo, ND vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Fargo?
- Merced is 20.4% more expensive than Fargo.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Fargo?
- Merced housing costs are 27.2% more expensive than Fargo housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Fargo or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 27.7% more in Merced.
 Fargo, NDMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries99.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing86.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities92  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous108.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Fargo    32 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Grew up in Fargo/Northern MN area and was there 29 years. It’s cheap to live, tons of things to do in the summer. But 3-6 months of the year you more than likely will  More

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Tyrel · 

Grew up in south Minneapolis and headed 3 hours west to Fargo. Why did I want to leave the Twin Cities area? Found a great job. Nicer apartment for less money. Nice  More

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Not your typical North Dakota town. Fargo is on the Minnesota border and Cass County makes up 1/4 of the entire states population. It is the urban center and much more  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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