CostIndexUSA

Greeley, CO vs Merced, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Greeley
100.2
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableCA
Merced
98.3
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Merced is slightly cheaper than Greeley — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Greeley, you would need $78,500 in Merced. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing30.2%
Greeley
112.6
Merced
78.6
🛒 Groceries+9.5%
Greeley
96.1
Merced
105.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Greeley
104.8
Merced
105.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Greeley
94.8
Merced
95.3
Utilities+93.0%
Greeley
82
Merced
158.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Greeley to see what you'd need to earn in Merced to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Merced, CA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Merced

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 100.2) = salary × 0.9810. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Greeley, CO

Median Home Price
$489,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
112.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.0×

Merced, CA

Median Home Price
$410,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Greeley has 30.2% lower housing costs compared to Merced.

Income & Job Market

Greeley, CO

Median Household Income
$91,000
Per Capita Income
$51,900
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
108,795
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareEducationManufacturingEnergy

Merced, CA

Median Household Income
$57,600
Per Capita Income
$32,800
Unemployment Rate
9.2%
Population
86,333
Top Industries
AgricultureEducationHealthcareGovernmentLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Greeley, CO
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Merced, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.