Uprootmap
Santa Cruz vs Merced
Santa Cruz and Merced
Photo: Publichall / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Merced are above the US rate in this release, 7.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Santa Cruz to Merced
In 2022-2023, 86 households filed a move from Santa Cruz to Merced (about 181 people, average adjusted gross income $60,547). 33 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,271 in Merced. Santa Cruz has a state tax on wages. Merced has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Merced is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Santa Cruz.
Merced averages 255 sunny days, with July highs around 105°F and January nights around 41°F. Santa Cruz is 247 sunny days, 77°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 31 minutes in Merced and 27 in Santa Cruz.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 86 households moved Santa Cruz → Merced (about 181 people, average AGI $60,547). 33 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Santa Cruz and Merced changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 86 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,000
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Merced
Questions
Is Merced cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?
Yes. Merced leaves about $1,214 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,271 in Merced.
Does Merced have state income tax?
Merced is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Cruz to Merced?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.