Chico, CA at a glance
Median household income
$66,977$5,581 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Chico, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Chico, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Chico, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,155 | $13,860 | $46,200 | 20.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,270 | $15,240 | $50,800 | 22.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,625 | $19,500 | $65,000 | 29.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,260 | $27,120 | $90,400 | 40.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,726 | $32,712 | $109,040 | 48.8% |
What a typical income covers in Chico, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,977 a year ($5,581 a month before tax).
What $66,977 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Chico, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Chico, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Chico, CA is $66,977 per year (approximately $5,581 per month).
What is the average rent in Chico, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,155 for a studio, $1,270 for one bedroom, $1,625 for two, $2,260 for three and $2,726 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Chico, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 101.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Chico, CA?
To keep a $1,625 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $65,000 a year, or $5,417 a month. That is 97% of what the typical household in Chico, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Chico, CA?
On the local median income of $66,977 ($5,581 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,791 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,674 for everything else and $1,116 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,625 takes 58% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Chico, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.