2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Big Bear City, CA vs Chico, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Chico or is it cheaper to live in Big Bear City?
- Chico is 7.0% less expensive than Big Bear City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Chico or Big Bear City?
- Chico housing costs are 34.6% more expensive than Big Bear City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Big Bear City or is Health Care more affordable in Chico.
- Health related expenses are 37.1% more in Chico.
 Big Bear City, CAChico, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock110.3100
 Food & Groceries97.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock120.8100
 Housing108.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$440,000$338,100
 Utilities107  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock84.9100
 Miscellaneous110.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Big Bear City    3 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

this place is great for outdoor  More

   |    Reply

Having lived in Big Bear City, CA for over 6 years, I can tell you that it is one of the best places to raise a family. The schools are excellent, from elementary to  More

   |    Reply

Over 18 years ago

beautiful in the summertime, zowie, would not want to be anywhere else. the cost of living nickels and dimes you to death. one cable choice (expensive), at least 20  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Big Bear City

Reviews for Chico    31 Reviews

Chico is imperfect like most places, but it's still good. Any and all of it's issues proceed from it's main fault of growing increasingly liberal, which is to be  More

   |    Reply

Uuwuu · 
Over 3 years ago

Chico's decent. I've been living here for ~5 years now. Eveen though my brother loves Chico and would like to stay, I would like to leave. I have no issues with crime or  More

   |    Reply

I was born in Oroville and I grew up in Oroville and Biggs. I have heard all my life about crime in chico. Well I have lived in Chico near Chapman for almost 10 years  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Chico


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.