CostIndexUSA

Merced, CA vs York, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Merced
98.3
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordablePA
York
96
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

York is slightly cheaper than Merced — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Merced, you would need $78,100 in York. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+1.5%
Merced
78.6
York
79.8
🛒 Groceries4.3%
Merced
105.2
York
100.7
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Merced
105.3
York
102.6
🏥 Healthcare2.6%
Merced
95.3
York
92.8
Utilities32.4%
Merced
158.3
York
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in York, PA
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in York

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 98.3) = salary × 0.9766. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Merced, CA

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

York, PA

Median Home Price
$297,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
79.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

York has 1.5% higher housing costs compared to Merced.

Income & Job Market

Merced, CA

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

York, PA

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
44,619
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Merced, CA
2.6×income-to-rent ratio

61% of income left after rent (median)

York, PA
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.