Merced, CA vs El Centro, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, El Centro, CA is 3.2% less expensive than Merced, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Merced works out to about $72,600 in El Centro, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 15.7% less in El Centro. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,803 a month in El Centro and $2,059 in Merced, $3,072 a year less in El Centro (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $382,000 in El Centro and $414,000 in Merced.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when El Centro was 4.8% less expensive than Merced.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 15.7% lower in El Centro than in Merced
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.3 | 95.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 78.6 | 66.3 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 157.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Merced | El Centro | El Centro vs Merced |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.3 | 95.2 | −3.2% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 78.6 | 66.3 | −15.7% |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 157.2 | −0.7% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,059 | $1,803 | −12.4% |
| Typical home value | $414,000 | $382,000 | −7.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Merced | $75,000 | $72,600 | −3.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Merced and El Centro has widened since 2008: 1.0 points then, 3.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.3 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 98.4 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 95.2 |
| 2011 | 98.4 | 94.8 |
| 2012 | 98.6 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 98.1 | 94.3 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 91.8 |
| 2015 | 95.7 | 94.5 |
| 2016 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| 2017 | 98.3 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | 101.1 | 92.8 |
| 2019 | 101.2 | 96.4 |
| 2020 | 98.7 | 96.9 |
| 2021 | 100.3 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 102.9 | 100.0 |
| 2023 | 99.6 | 100.2 |
| 2024 | 98.3 | 95.2 |
Goods
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 99.9 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 98.5 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 98.6 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 96.4 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 97.1 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 103.7 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 82.3 | 72.5 |
| 2009 | 88.1 | 79.7 |
| 2010 | 87.9 | 80.6 |
| 2011 | 85.3 | 75.4 |
| 2012 | 84.4 | 81.4 |
| 2013 | 88.2 | 78.8 |
| 2014 | 77.6 | 66.9 |
| 2015 | 81.9 | 68.5 |
| 2016 | 83.4 | 80.9 |
| 2017 | 90.4 | 70.0 |
| 2018 | 83.6 | 56.5 |
| 2019 | 88.4 | 67.8 |
| 2020 | 79.5 | 76.2 |
| 2021 | 88.7 | 67.0 |
| 2022 | 84.2 | 74.0 |
| 2023 | 76.8 | 77.7 |
| 2024 | 78.6 | 66.3 |
Utilities
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.3 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 113.3 | 104.6 |
| 2011 | 115.3 | 110.2 |
| 2012 | 118.7 | 106.4 |
| 2013 | 116.8 | 106.0 |
| 2014 | 122.2 | 105.6 |
| 2015 | 123.2 | 107.7 |
| 2016 | 117.9 | 120.2 |
| 2017 | 112.8 | 117.1 |
| 2018 | 123.1 | 121.4 |
| 2019 | 130.7 | 128.1 |
| 2020 | 135.2 | 131.9 |
| 2021 | 146.5 | 141.0 |
| 2022 | 149.0 | 146.0 |
| 2023 | 147.7 | 138.6 |
| 2024 | 158.3 | 157.2 |
Other services
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 102.8 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 99.0 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.1 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 95.3 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,803 in El Centro vs $2,059 in Merced
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $973 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $985 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $998 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,017 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,031 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,079 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,107 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,104 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,133 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,183 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,206 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,194 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,240 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,283 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,293 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,262 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,316 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,361 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,381 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,361 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,384 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,409 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,433 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,510 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,518 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,644 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,751 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,775 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,802 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,834 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,821 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,818 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,837 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,874 | $1,419 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,892 | $1,485 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,887 | $1,482 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,898 | $1,572 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,938 | $1,532 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,982 | $1,538 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,989 | $1,640 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,000 | $1,652 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,021 | $1,659 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,037 | $1,697 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,029 | $1,694 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,027 | $1,743 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,064 | $1,808 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,059 | $1,803 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $382,000 in El Centro vs $414,000 in Merced
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Merced, CA
- El Centro, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Merced, CA | El Centro, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $193K | $175K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $198K | $181K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $204K | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $209K | $190K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $213K | $194K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $217K | $197K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $222K | $198K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $227K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $235K | $204K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $241K | $210K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $245K | $212K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $252K | $216K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $259K | $218K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $264K | $222K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $269K | $223K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $273K | $223K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $282K | $229K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $287K | $237K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $289K | $240K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $292K | $247K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $296K | $248K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $299K | $251K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $305K | $258K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $319K | $263K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $335K | $270K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $357K | $279K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $372K | $290K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $386K | $298K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $408K | $305K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $426K | $312K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $422K | $312K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $408K | $308K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $396K | $313K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $399K | $319K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $405K | $324K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $409K | $328K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $414K | $334K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $421K | $340K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $423K | $343K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $424K | $349K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $422K | $354K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $419K | $357K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $415K | $365K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $415K | $373K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $415K | $379K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $414K | $380K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $414K | $382K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.