2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Hayward, CA vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Hayward?
- Merced is 44.2% less expensive than Hayward.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Hayward?
- Merced housing costs are 62.0% less expensive than Hayward housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Hayward or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 3.9% more in Merced.
 Hayward, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries110.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing290.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous158.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Hayward    4 Reviews

I've lived in Hayward for 20 years. Traditionally a working  More

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Hetchy Hechy water is very pure,the summers are about 78f..warm enough. Winters are sunny for the most part and by average.One University and one College in this small  More

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Over 11 years ago

convenient BART and bus if you have no  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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