Chico, CA vs Modesto, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Modesto, CA is 2.9% more expensive than Chico, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Chico works out to about $77,200 in Modesto, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 18.0% more in Modesto. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,068 a month in Modesto and $1,549 in Chico, $6,228 a year more in Modesto (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $461,000 in Modesto and $394,000 in Chico.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.3%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 18.0% higher in Modesto than in Chico
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.2 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 91.9 | 108.5 |
| Utilities | 158.8 | 152.3 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Chico | Modesto | Modesto vs Chico |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.2 | 104.1 | +2.9% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 91.9 | 108.5 | +18.0% |
| Utilities | 158.8 | 152.3 | −4.1% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,549 | $2,068 | +33.5% |
| Typical home value | $394,000 | $461,000 | +17.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Chico | $75,000 | $77,200 | +2.9% |
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 Modesto has widened since 2008: 0.7 points then, 2.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.4 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 102.3 | 102.5 |
| 2010 | 100.7 | 100.4 |
| 2011 | 102.1 | 101.8 |
| 2012 | 103.5 | 102.1 |
| 2013 | 100.5 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 99.8 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 98.4 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 97.8 |
| 2017 | 100.9 | 99.9 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 104.5 |
| 2019 | 102.2 | 104.6 |
| 2020 | 101.8 | 103.2 |
| 2021 | 102.5 | 103.0 |
| 2022 | 104.2 | 106.0 |
| 2023 | 104.7 | 105.1 |
| 2024 | 101.2 | 104.1 |
Goods
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, 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
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.4 | 109.2 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 110.2 |
| 2010 | 110.3 | 108.2 |
| 2011 | 104.4 | 102.7 |
| 2012 | 111.7 | 102.7 |
| 2013 | 100.6 | 101.5 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 95.4 |
| 2015 | 97.4 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 93.8 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 105.9 | 100.4 |
| 2018 | 100.9 | 102.9 |
| 2019 | 95.3 | 109.3 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 104.8 |
| 2021 | 102.4 | 105.2 |
| 2022 | 91.4 | 101.7 |
| 2023 | 100.7 | 103.5 |
| 2024 | 91.9 | 108.5 |
Utilities
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 102.0 | 98.8 |
| 2009 | 100.9 | 98.5 |
| 2010 | 112.3 | 111.0 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 113.1 |
| 2012 | 115.8 | 116.2 |
| 2013 | 116.6 | 114.8 |
| 2014 | 121.0 | 120.8 |
| 2015 | 123.3 | 121.8 |
| 2016 | 121.0 | 116.0 |
| 2017 | 117.7 | 111.7 |
| 2018 | 126.8 | 121.7 |
| 2019 | 132.4 | 128.9 |
| 2020 | 136.8 | 132.0 |
| 2021 | 146.1 | 140.8 |
| 2022 | 150.6 | 144.6 |
| 2023 | 151.8 | 140.2 |
| 2024 | 158.8 | 152.3 |
Other services
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Chico, CA | Modesto, 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: $2,068 in Modesto vs $1,549 in Chico
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, 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 | Modesto, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $923 | $1,004 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $935 | $1,040 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $947 | $1,058 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $947 | $1,065 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $959 | $1,102 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $988 | $1,140 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $994 | $1,155 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $994 | $1,180 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,026 | $1,210 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,028 | $1,249 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,037 | $1,271 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,032 | $1,258 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,073 | $1,299 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,083 | $1,323 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,080 | $1,355 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,107 | $1,363 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,158 | $1,360 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,201 | $1,400 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,193 | $1,408 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,189 | $1,425 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,216 | $1,451 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,223 | $1,484 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,227 | $1,524 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,250 | $1,565 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,257 | $1,610 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,307 | $1,667 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,344 | $1,730 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,320 | $1,761 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,373 | $1,816 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,381 | $1,865 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,414 | $1,868 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,400 | $1,847 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,418 | $1,873 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,426 | $1,904 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,437 | $1,930 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,415 | $1,933 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,445 | $1,944 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,451 | $1,982 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,496 | $1,994 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,472 | $1,995 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,488 | $2,002 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,501 | $2,031 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,517 | $2,037 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,527 | $2,014 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,532 | $2,032 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,538 | $2,044 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,549 | $2,068 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $461,000 in Modesto vs $394,000 in Chico
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Chico, CA
- Modesto, 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 | Modesto, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $235K | $227K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $238K | $232K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $241K | $238K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $246K | $245K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $252K | $252K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $254K | $255K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $257K | $260K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $264K | $266K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $269K | $274K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $274K | $278K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $279K | $283K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $284K | $291K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $291K | $300K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $295K | $305K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $298K | $309K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $300K | $312K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $314K | $317K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $329K | $320K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $335K | $323K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $339K | $328K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $340K | $333K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $338K | $337K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $344K | $344K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $361K | $362K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $374K | $384K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $386K | $405K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $393K | $417K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $398K | $426K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $414K | $448K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $426K | $467K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $419K | $461K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $409K | $445K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $396K | $434K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $397K | $438K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $395K | $446K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $390K | $451K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $391K | $456K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $393K | $462K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $392K | $464K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $393K | $466K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $392K | $466K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $392K | $464K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $393K | $460K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $395K | $461K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $396K | $462K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $394K | $461K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $394K | $461K | $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.