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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Petaluma?
- Merced is 28.1% less expensive than Petaluma.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Petaluma?
- Merced housing costs are 60.8% less expensive than Petaluma housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Petaluma or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 10.0% more in Merced.
 Petaluma, CAMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries110.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing281.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities99  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous153.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

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We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

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I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  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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