What is the cost of living in Chico, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chico has an overall cost of living index of 134, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Chico has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Chico ranks as #188 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Chico ranks as the #446 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Chico, check out:
Chico Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chico. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chico is 110.
The Groceries index in Chico is 117.
The Health index in Chico is 169.
The Housing index in Chico is 120.
The Transportation index in Chico is 118.
The Utilities index in Chico is 123.
| Living Expense | Chico | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 134 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 117 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 169 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 120 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 123 | 121 | 100 |
Chico Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Chico Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chico, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Chico is $466,203.
The Median Rent in Chico is $1,488.
The Median Income in Chico is $66,977.
The Home Value To Income in Chico is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chico is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Chico | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $466,203 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,488 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,977 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Chico, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Chico Services costs vs. California
| Item | Chico | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.44 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.76 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.22 | $18 |
| Haircut | $40.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $60.53 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chico Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Chico | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.56 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.06 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.93 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.69 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.98 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.49 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chico Health costs vs. California
| Item | Chico | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $153.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $201.43 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.72 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chico Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Chico | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.51 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chico Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Chico | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $238.53 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $190.81 | $192.25 |
Chico SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chico
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chico. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Live Oak, CA has a cost of living index of 118, 0.9x Chico.
Paradise, CA has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Chico.
Magalia, CA has a cost of living index of 114, 0.9x Chico.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak, CA | 16,911 | 118 | 0.9x |
| Paradise, CA | 7,392 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Magalia, CA | 7,389 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Gridley, CA | 7,330 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Colusa, CA | 6,505 | 119 | 0.9x |
| Willows, CA | 6,190 | 115 | 0.9x |
| Williams, CA | 5,585 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Durham, CA | 5,340 | 158 | 1.2x |
| Palermo, CA | 5,266 | 119 | 0.9x |
