What is the cost of living in Chowchilla, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chowchilla has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Chowchilla has a cost of living index that's 0.8x lower than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Chowchilla ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Chowchilla ranks as the #586 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Chowchilla, check out:
Chowchilla Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chowchilla. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chowchilla is 110.
The Groceries index in Chowchilla is 118.
The Health index in Chowchilla is 113.
The Housing index in Chowchilla is 117.
The Transportation index in Chowchilla is 122.
The Utilities index in Chowchilla is 118.
| Living Expense | Chowchilla | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 110 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 113 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 117 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 122 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chowchilla, 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 Chowchilla is $393,599.
The Median Rent in Chowchilla is $1,178.
The Median Income in Chowchilla is $66,514.
The Home Value To Income in Chowchilla is 5.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chowchilla is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Chowchilla | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $393,599 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,178 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,514 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Chowchilla, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Chowchilla Services costs vs. California
| Item | Chowchilla | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.56 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.64 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $23.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.83 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $76.57 | $45.56 |
Detailed Chowchilla Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Chowchilla | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.21 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.1 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.99 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.69 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.96 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.86 | $3.7 |
Detailed Chowchilla Health costs vs. California
| Item | Chowchilla | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $157.88 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $148.27 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chowchilla Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Chowchilla | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.63 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.51 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chowchilla Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Chowchilla | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $299.78 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $191.56 | $192.25 |
Chowchilla SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chowchilla
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chowchilla. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fresno, CA has a cost of living index of 122, 1.1x Chowchilla.
Clovis, CA has a cost of living index of 130, 1.2x Chowchilla.
Turlock, CA has a cost of living index of 131, 1.2x Chowchilla.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chowchilla |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | 545,970 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Clovis, CA | 124,725 | 130 | 1.2x |
| Turlock, CA | 72,502 | 131 | 1.2x |
| Madera, CA | 67,831 | 119 | 1.1x |
| Madera Acres, CA | 9,846 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Waterford, CA | 9,204 | 125 | 1.1x |
| Hughson, CA | 7,648 | 136 | 1.2x |
| Fowler, CA | 7,094 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Keyes, CA | 5,577 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Old Fig Garden, CA | 5,503 | 139 | 1.2x |








