2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Rapid City, SD vs Merced, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Merced or is it cheaper to live in Rapid City?
- Merced is 11.6% more expensive than Rapid City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Merced or Rapid City?
- Merced housing costs are 23.0% more expensive than Rapid City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Rapid City or is Health Care more affordable in Merced.
- Health related expenses are 17.5% less in Merced.
 Rapid City, SDMerced, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock109.1100
 Food & Groceries100.1  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock121.3100
 Housing89.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$373,000$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock101.1100
 Miscellaneous91.2  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Rapid City    31 Reviews

I have lived in this city for the last three and half years and I can't stand it!! Let me spell it out for you, but to be fair, let me give you the Pros first:  More

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Unless you made your pension out of state or already bought a home you can't afford to liver there. Rapid City is gray in winter.  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived in the city 5 years a loved  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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