Chico, CA vs Bakersfield, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Bakersfield, CA and Chico, CA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Chico works out to about $74,800 in Bakersfield, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.8% lower in Bakersfield, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,822 a month in Bakersfield and $1,549 in Chico, $3,276 a year more in Bakersfield (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $360,000 in Bakersfield and $394,000 in Chico.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.1%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Chico and Bakersfield
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
All items Chico, CA: 101.2 Bakersfield, CA: 100.9
Goods Chico, CA: 105.2 Bakersfield, CA: 105.2
Housing (rents) Chico, CA: 91.9 Bakersfield, CA: 90.3
Utilities Chico, CA: 158.8 Bakersfield, CA: 158.3
Other services Chico, CA: 100.3 Bakersfield, CA: 100.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.2 | 100.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 91.9 | 90.3 |
| Utilities | 158.8 | 158.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Chico | Bakersfield | Bakersfield vs Chico |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.2 | 100.9 | −0.3% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 91.9 | 90.3 | −1.8% |
| Utilities | 158.8 | 158.3 | −0.4% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,549 | $1,822 | +17.6% |
| Typical home value | $394,000 | $360,000 | −8.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Chico | $75,000 | $74,800 | −0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Chico and Bakersfield has narrowed since 2008: 2.5 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 96.9 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 100.3 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 98.2 |
| 2011 | 102.1 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 103.5 | 101.1 |
| 2013 | 100.5 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 99.6 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 97.7 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 96.5 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 98.5 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 101.7 |
| 2019 | 102.2 | 101.1 |
| 2020 | 101.8 | 100.3 |
| 2021 | 102.5 | 100.9 |
| 2022 | 104.2 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 104.7 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 101.2 | 100.9 |
Goods
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 99.0 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2014 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2015 | 94.9 | 94.9 |
| 2016 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 105.3 |
| 2019 | 104.8 | 104.8 |
| 2020 | 104.5 | 104.5 |
| 2021 | 106.9 | 106.9 |
| 2022 | 109.0 | 109.0 |
| 2023 | 104.9 | 104.9 |
| 2024 | 105.2 | 105.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.4 | 97.2 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 97.1 |
| 2010 | 110.3 | 96.1 |
| 2011 | 104.4 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 111.7 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 100.6 | 95.8 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 97.4 | 92.9 |
| 2016 | 93.8 | 90.6 |
| 2017 | 105.9 | 92.1 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 87.3 |
| 2019 | 95.3 | 89.4 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 89.1 |
| 2021 | 102.4 | 92.4 |
| 2022 | 91.4 | 93.1 |
| 2023 | 100.7 | 88.0 |
| 2024 | 91.9 | 90.3 |
Utilities
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.0 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 100.9 | 100.8 |
| 2010 | 112.3 | 111.8 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 113.5 |
| 2012 | 115.8 | 116.9 |
| 2013 | 116.6 | 115.9 |
| 2014 | 121.0 | 121.0 |
| 2015 | 123.3 | 122.9 |
| 2016 | 121.0 | 118.6 |
| 2017 | 117.7 | 114.7 |
| 2018 | 126.8 | 124.5 |
| 2019 | 132.4 | 130.7 |
| 2020 | 136.8 | 134.9 |
| 2021 | 146.1 | 145.2 |
| 2022 | 150.6 | 149.4 |
| 2023 | 151.8 | 148.0 |
| 2024 | 158.8 | 158.3 |
Other services
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 102.5 | 102.5 |
| 2012 | 102.4 | 102.4 |
| 2013 | 101.1 | 101.1 |
| 2014 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2015 | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| 2016 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 103.7 | 103.7 |
| 2019 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2021 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 103.9 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 104.2 |
| 2024 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,822 in Bakersfield vs $1,549 in Chico
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $923 | $975 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $935 | $982 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $947 | $981 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $947 | $982 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $959 | $993 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $988 | $997 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $994 | $1,006 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $994 | $1,006 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,026 | $1,021 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,028 | $1,035 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,037 | $1,043 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,032 | $1,044 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,073 | $1,060 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,083 | $1,075 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,080 | $1,085 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,107 | $1,095 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,158 | $1,116 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,201 | $1,136 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,193 | $1,149 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,189 | $1,158 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,216 | $1,161 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,223 | $1,187 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,227 | $1,246 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,250 | $1,265 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,257 | $1,296 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,307 | $1,346 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,344 | $1,407 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,320 | $1,467 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,373 | $1,518 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,381 | $1,581 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,414 | $1,594 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,400 | $1,586 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,418 | $1,600 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,426 | $1,634 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,437 | $1,657 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,415 | $1,660 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,445 | $1,673 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,451 | $1,706 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,496 | $1,707 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,472 | $1,712 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,488 | $1,745 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,501 | $1,761 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,517 | $1,769 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,527 | $1,758 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,532 | $1,780 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,538 | $1,796 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,549 | $1,822 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $360,000 in Bakersfield vs $394,000 in Chico
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Chico, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Bakersfield, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $235K | $180K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $238K | $183K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $241K | $185K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $246K | $190K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $252K | $193K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $254K | $194K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $257K | $195K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $264K | $198K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $269K | $201K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $274K | $203K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $279K | $205K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $284K | $209K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $291K | $214K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $295K | $217K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $298K | $220K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $300K | $222K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $314K | $226K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $329K | $229K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $335K | $231K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $339K | $234K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $340K | $238K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $338K | $241K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $344K | $247K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $361K | $258K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $374K | $269K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $386K | $283K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $393K | $295K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $398K | $305K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $414K | $320K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $426K | $335K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $419K | $337K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $409K | $332K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $396K | $328K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $397K | $333K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $395K | $341K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $390K | $344K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $391K | $349K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $393K | $355K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $392K | $358K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $393K | $361K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $392K | $363K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $392K | $362K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $393K | $360K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $395K | $360K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $396K | $362K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $394K | $361K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $394K | $360K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.