City comparison
Merced, CA vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Merced, CA (98.3) and Richmond, VA (97.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Merced, CA goes as far as $99,600 in Richmond, VA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,213 in Merced, CA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 20% in Merced, CA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,936 in VA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −16.4% moving from Merced, CA to Richmond, VA ($133,060 → $111,183), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −16.1% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Merced, CA | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,576 in Richmond | $100,426 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$135/yr.
70 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Merced, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$135/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Richmond, VA | Real change, Merced → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $64,475 | −16.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $78,009 | −16.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $93,499 | −16.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $111,183 | −16.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $131,385 | −16.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $61,290 | $61,551 (−38.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $132,120 | $132,683 (+0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $84,220 | $84,579 (+5.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $93,580 | $93,979 (−28.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.