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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Olympia?
- Merced is 2.7% less expensive than Olympia.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Olympia?
- Merced housing costs are 29.0% less expensive than Olympia housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Olympia or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 39.3% more in Merced.
 Olympia, WAMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries101.4  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing155.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities74  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous143.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Olympia    39 Reviews

We moved here from Kitsap Bremerton/Silverdale WA area and this beats it all the way in all material ways. The only reason not to give it 5 stars is the cost of  More

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Over 4 years ago

The city is horrible. The business have been chased out by homeless. The city government makes it for difficult for businesses to thrive. If you like what Seattle is  More

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Having lived all over the world we decided to retire in Olympia and live on the Puget Sound. Yes it rains but the weather can change dramatically in a day with sun and  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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