2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Merced, CA vs Carmel Valley Village, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel Valley Village or is it cheaper to live in Merced?
- Carmel Valley Village is 39.2% more expensive than Merced.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel Valley Village or Merced?
- Carmel Valley Village housing costs are 284.6% more expensive than Merced housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Merced or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel Valley Village.
- Health related expenses are 18.5% more in Carmel Valley Village.
 Merced, CACarmel Valley Village, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries99.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing110.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,350,100$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.2100
 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 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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Reviews for Carmel Valley Village    2 Reviews

It was a great place to grow up in the 70s. However, it has become very expensive. Natural beauty abounds. Reasonable drives to get to Carmel or down the coast to Big  More

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A tresure, a precious gem, fresh, sweet smeeling air everytime I round the corner into the village, kind people, gorgeous scenes everywhere-trees, creeks, flowers,  More

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