2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Foster City, CA vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Foster City?
- Merced is 56.4% less expensive than Foster City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Foster City?
- Merced housing costs are 82.1% less expensive than Foster City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Foster City or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 3.3% more in Merced.
 Foster City, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries117.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing617.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous162.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Foster City    4 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

Built on lagoons, great climate, good schools, lots of soccer and other sports for kids, plenty of parking and  More

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Over 18 years ago

A great city to raise a family, safe, great weather around the year, good schools and plenty of recreation. But only if you can afford the hight cost of  More

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Landlords are able to command and receive high rent due to the following attributes: safety, weather and cleanliness of Foster City. The lagoon, waterways and gardens  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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