2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Merced, CA vs Charlotte, NC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or is it cheaper to live in Merced?
- Charlotte is 6.0% less expensive than Merced.

Which city has more affordable housing, Charlotte or Merced?
- Charlotte housing costs are 6.3% less expensive than Merced housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Merced or is Health Care more affordable in Charlotte.
- Health related expenses are 21.7% less in Charlotte.
 Merced, CACharlotte, NCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock102.5100
 Food & Groceries99.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock95.0100
 Housing110.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$381,800$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock97.7100
 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 Charlotte    305 Reviews

My favorite city to live year round with 4 seasons. We love Charlotte  More

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Over 3 years ago

This city has a lot of potential, but it could use some work. For example, it seems to lack things that other cities have. And there is a lack of atmosphere and charm.  More

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Over 4 years ago

Very new transplant (~6 weeks) so first impressions and reasons why I moved here: -great year-round weather, if you don't mind humidity-- less hot in summer than TX/AZ  More

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