CostIndexUSA

Chico, CA vs Reno, NV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostCA
Chico
101.2
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
NV
Reno
101
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Chico and Reno have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+34.4%
Chico
91.9
Reno
123.5
🛒 Groceries8.5%
Chico
105.2
Reno
96.3
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Chico
105.3
Reno
103.7
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Chico
95.3
Reno
93.8
Utilities43.8%
Chico
158.8
Reno
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Chico to see what you'd need to earn in Reno to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Reno, NV
$79,800
$200 less needed in Reno

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 101.2) = salary × 0.9980. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chico, CA

Median Home Price
$390,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
91.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.6×

Reno, NV

Median Home Price
$551,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
123.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.2×

Reno has 34.4% higher housing costs compared to Chico.

Income & Job Market

Chico, CA

Median Household Income
$63,200
Per Capita Income
$36,000
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
101,475
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingRetail

Reno, NV

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
264,165
Top Industries
GamingHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Chico, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Reno, NV
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.