Greeley, CO vs Chico, CA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Chico, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% lower than Greeley, CO.

Greeley, CO · modeled 2BR rent: $1,680 / month
Chico, CA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,710 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Greeley, CO and Chico, CA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Greeley, CO

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $128/month in Chico, CA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,461 in Chico, CA

Regional cost estimates: Greeley, CO uses Denver, CO. Chico, CA uses Sacramento, CA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 1.1%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$128

Savings

Annual Impact

$1.5K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Greeley, CO

Population:113K

Cost Index:

103.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$442K

Chico, CA

Population:101K

Cost Index:

102.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$449K

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Greeley, CO

The Centennial State

113K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 113K residents.

Chico, CA

The Golden State

101K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in California, this city has a population of 101K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Greeley, CO vs Chico, CA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Greeley, CO	Chico, CA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,609/mo	$2,736/mo	↑ $127more	4.9%
Transportation	$1,304/mo	$1,179/mo	↓ $126less	9.6%
Other	$1,583/mo	$1,500/mo	↓ $83.45less	5.3%
Healthcare	$581/mo	$549/mo	↓ $31.75less	5.5%
All Utilities	$477/mo	$470/mo	↓ $7.38less	1.5%
Groceries	$946/mo	$939/mo	↓ $7.26less	0.8%

Housing

↑ 4.9%

Greeley, CO

$2,609

Chico, CA

$2,736

Difference

$127

Transportation

↓ 9.6%

Greeley, CO

$1,304

Chico, CA

$1,179

Difference

$126

less

Other

↓ 5.3%

Greeley, CO

$1,583

Chico, CA

$1,500

Difference

$83.45

less

Healthcare

↓ 5.5%

Greeley, CO

$581

Chico, CA

$549

Difference

$31.75

less

All Utilities

↓ 1.5%

Greeley, CO

$477

Chico, CA

$470

Difference

$7.38

less

Groceries

↓ 0.8%

Greeley, CO

$946

Chico, CA

$939

Difference

$7.26

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,260

To$1,220

↓ $40.00

1 Bed

From$1,330

To$1,340

↑ $10.00

2 Bed

From$1,680

To$1,710

↑ $30.00

3 Bed

From$2,340

To$2,380

↑ $40.00

Greeley, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,330–$1,330/mo

Chico, CAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Greeley, CO

$7,372

Monthly in Chico, CA

$128

Difference

Home Values

Greeley

Chico

$442K

Median Value

$449K

↓ -1.6%

YoY Change

↑ +0.6%

↑ +19.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +8.5%

Homes in Chico are 2% more expensive than Greeley

Calculate payment - Greeley Calculate payment - Chico

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $4.0K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$336

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

2.7%

Rate difference

Greeley, CO

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Colorado State Tax

Effective: 4.4%

$6.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.1%

$43.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,866/month

$106.4K

Chico, CA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

California State Tax

Effective: 7.1%

$10.6K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.8%

$47.6K

Take-Home Pay

$8,530/month

$102.4K

Additional Tax Information

Greeley, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%

Property Tax:0.5%

Chico, CA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:10.5%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Greeley

Chico

55 Moderate

Air Quality

51 Moderate

35.2%

Good Air Days

49.7%

95 High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌊☀🫨

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

▲+3.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.4°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

69 days

Before moving from Greeley, CO to Chico, CA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Chico, CA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Greeley, CO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Greeley to Chico moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Chico, CA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Greeley, CO vs Chico, CA

How do the cost estimates for Greeley, CO and Chico, CA compare?

Chico, CA has a modeled overall cost index 1.1% lower than Greeley, CO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Greeley, CO, the model estimates $148,461 in Chico, CA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Greeley, CO and Chico, CA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,680/month in Greeley, CO and $1,710/month in Chico, CA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Colorado and California on TaxTakeHome.com