Modesto, CA vs Chico, CA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Chico, CA is 2.8% less expensive than Modesto, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Modesto works out to about $72,900 in Chico, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 15.2% less in Chico. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,549 a month in Chico and $2,068 in Modesto, $6,228 a year less in Chico (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $394,000 in Chico and $461,000 in Modesto.
- 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: 15.2% lower in Chico than in Modesto
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.1 | 101.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 108.5 | 91.9 |
| Utilities | 152.3 | 158.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Category | Modesto | Chico | Chico vs Modesto |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 104.1 | 101.2 | −2.8% |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 108.5 | 91.9 | −15.2% |
| Utilities | 152.3 | 158.8 | +4.3% |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $2,068 | $1,549 | −25.1% |
| Typical home value | $461,000 | $394,000 | −14.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Modesto | $75,000 | $72,900 | −2.8% |
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 Modesto and Chico has widened since 2008: 0.7 points then, 2.9 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 99.4 |
| 2009 | 102.5 | 102.3 |
| 2010 | 100.4 | 100.7 |
| 2011 | 101.8 | 102.1 |
| 2012 | 102.1 | 103.5 |
| 2013 | 100.7 | 100.5 |
| 2014 | 99.3 | 99.8 |
| 2015 | 98.6 | 98.4 |
| 2016 | 97.8 | 97.1 |
| 2017 | 99.9 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 104.5 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 104.6 | 102.2 |
| 2020 | 103.2 | 101.8 |
| 2021 | 103.0 | 102.5 |
| 2022 | 106.0 | 104.2 |
| 2023 | 105.1 | 104.7 |
| 2024 | 104.1 | 101.2 |
Goods
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, 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)
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.2 | 111.4 |
| 2009 | 110.2 | 107.7 |
| 2010 | 108.2 | 110.3 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 104.4 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 111.7 |
| 2013 | 101.5 | 100.6 |
| 2014 | 95.4 | 99.1 |
| 2015 | 98.3 | 97.4 |
| 2016 | 98.0 | 93.8 |
| 2017 | 100.4 | 105.9 |
| 2018 | 102.9 | 100.9 |
| 2019 | 109.3 | 95.3 |
| 2020 | 104.8 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 105.2 | 102.4 |
| 2022 | 101.7 | 91.4 |
| 2023 | 103.5 | 100.7 |
| 2024 | 108.5 | 91.9 |
Utilities
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 98.5 | 100.9 |
| 2010 | 111.0 | 112.3 |
| 2011 | 113.1 | 113.2 |
| 2012 | 116.2 | 115.8 |
| 2013 | 114.8 | 116.6 |
| 2014 | 120.8 | 121.0 |
| 2015 | 121.8 | 123.3 |
| 2016 | 116.0 | 121.0 |
| 2017 | 111.7 | 117.7 |
| 2018 | 121.7 | 126.8 |
| 2019 | 128.9 | 132.4 |
| 2020 | 132.0 | 136.8 |
| 2021 | 140.8 | 146.1 |
| 2022 | 144.6 | 150.6 |
| 2023 | 140.2 | 151.8 |
| 2024 | 152.3 | 158.8 |
Other services
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Modesto, CA | Chico, 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: $1,549 in Chico vs $2,068 in Modesto
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, 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
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,004 | $923 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,040 | $935 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,058 | $947 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,065 | $947 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,102 | $959 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,140 | $988 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,155 | $994 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,180 | $994 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,210 | $1,026 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,249 | $1,028 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,271 | $1,037 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,258 | $1,032 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,299 | $1,073 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,323 | $1,083 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,355 | $1,080 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,363 | $1,107 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,360 | $1,158 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,400 | $1,201 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,408 | $1,193 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,425 | $1,189 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,451 | $1,216 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,484 | $1,223 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,524 | $1,227 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,565 | $1,250 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,610 | $1,257 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,667 | $1,307 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,730 | $1,344 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,761 | $1,320 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,816 | $1,373 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,865 | $1,381 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,868 | $1,414 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,847 | $1,400 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,873 | $1,418 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,904 | $1,426 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,930 | $1,437 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,933 | $1,415 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,944 | $1,445 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,982 | $1,451 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,994 | $1,496 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,995 | $1,472 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,002 | $1,488 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $2,031 | $1,501 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $2,037 | $1,517 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $2,014 | $1,527 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $2,032 | $1,532 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $2,044 | $1,538 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $2,068 | $1,549 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $394,000 in Chico vs $461,000 in Modesto
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Modesto, CA
- Chico, 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
| Modesto, CA | Chico, CA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $227K | $235K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $232K | $238K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $238K | $241K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $245K | $246K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $252K | $252K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $255K | $254K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $260K | $257K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $266K | $264K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $274K | $269K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $278K | $274K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $283K | $279K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $291K | $284K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $300K | $291K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $305K | $295K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $309K | $298K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $312K | $300K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $317K | $314K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $320K | $329K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $323K | $335K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $328K | $339K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $333K | $340K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $337K | $338K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $344K | $344K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $362K | $361K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $384K | $374K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $405K | $386K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $417K | $393K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $426K | $398K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $448K | $414K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $467K | $426K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $461K | $419K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $445K | $409K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $434K | $396K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $438K | $397K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $446K | $395K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $451K | $390K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $456K | $391K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $462K | $393K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $464K | $392K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $466K | $393K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $466K | $392K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $464K | $392K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $460K | $393K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $461K | $395K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $462K | $396K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $461K | $394K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $461K | $394K | $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.