City comparison
Merced, CA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 1.6% higher than in Merced, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Merced, CA would need about $101,600 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,213 a month in Merced, CA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Merced, CA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −19.6% moving from Merced, CA to Visalia, CA ($133,060 → $106,973), while prices change by +1.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −20.9% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Merced, CA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,577 in Visalia | $98,447 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Visalia, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
64 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Merced, CA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.6%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Merced → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $62,033 | −20.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $75,055 | −20.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,959 | −20.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,973 | −20.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $126,410 | −20.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $98,430 | $96,902 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $126,170 | $124,211 (−6.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $79,400 | $78,167 (−2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $125,180 | $123,236 (−6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.