City comparison
Merced, CA vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Merced, CA are 7.9% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $107,900 in Merced, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,213 a month in Merced, CA versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Merced, CA and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $5,070 a year in CA and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −20.0% moving from Merced, CA to Spartanburg, SC ($133,060 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −13.7% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (about average)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Merced, CA | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,649 in Spartanburg | $107,934 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$228/yr.
94 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Merced, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$228/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Merced → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $61,722 | −13.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $74,678 | −13.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,508 | −13.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,437 | −13.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $125,776 | −13.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $60,990 | $65,829 (−34.2%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $114,460 | $123,541 (−6.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $77,080 | $83,196 (+3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $82,360 | $88,894 (−32.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.