City comparison
Merced, CA vs Pensacola, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Merced, CA (98.3) and Pensacola, FL (97.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Merced, CA goes as far as $99,400 in Pensacola, FL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Merced, CA and $1,257 in Pensacola, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Merced, CA than in Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −20.0% moving from Merced, CA to Pensacola, FL ($133,060 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −19.6% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Merced, CA | Pensacola, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 97.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,432 in Pensacola | $100,571 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,257/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $46,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Pensacola |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 98.8 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 97.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
71 Strong offer
Pensacola, FL → Merced, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Pensacola, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Pensacola, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Pensacola, FL | Real change, Merced → Pensacola |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $61,722 | −19.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $74,678 | −19.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,508 | −19.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,437 | −19.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $125,776 | −19.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $50,360 | $50,648 (−49.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $108,430 | $109,049 (−17.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $76,410 | $76,846 (−4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $77,890 | $78,335 (−40.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.