2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Merced, CA vs Oak Harbor, WA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Oak Harbor or is it cheaper to live in Merced?
- Oak Harbor is 11.1% more expensive than Merced.

Which city has more affordable housing, Oak Harbor or Merced?
- Oak Harbor housing costs are 34.8% more expensive than Merced housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Merced or is Health Care more affordable in Oak Harbor.
- Health related expenses are 22.1% less in Oak Harbor.
 Merced, CAOak Harbor, WAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock121.2100
 Food & Groceries99.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock94.5100
 Housing110.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$478,300$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock74.7100
 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 Oak Harbor    6 Reviews

The new high school addition looks great, but the quality of the education is lacking. The worst I would have to say, is the English dept. All of the senior parents were  More

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Over 17 years ago

I have found Oak Harbor to be a nice place to live in general, but still feel it is too secluded for me personally. There is not a lot to do as far as night life or  More

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Over 17 years ago

Windy, dreary, wet and noisy. A great place if you're a slug or  More

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