Merced Station
2980 E Yosemite Ave,
Merced, CA 95340
$549 - $1,279
2-4 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Merced, CA
What is the average rent in Merced, CA?
$1,187/month
Average Rent
632 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
-1%
Decrease in the Last Year
As of February 2026, the average rent in Merced, CA is $1,187 per month. This is 27% lower than the national average rent of $1,626/month, making renting in Merced more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Merced, you can expect to pay about $740 per month for a studio, $1,187 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,449 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,637 or more.
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
How much has average rent changed in Merced, CA?
In the past year, rent has decreased by 1%, which averages out to $11 less per month.
Market Trends Over Time
The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated February 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in Merced, CA
Last Updated February 2026
Below $701
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
33%
Below $700/month
24%
$700 - $1,000/month
22%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
22%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
0%
Above $2,000/month
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Merced, CA?
Because the average rent in Merced is $1,187, you’ll want to make about $3,956 per month or $47,472 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.
How does Merced, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare Merced, CA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.
Nearby City Rent Trends
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.