Chico vs Daly City: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Chico, CA and Daly City, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricChico, CADaly City, CA
Population102,790103,648
Median household income$65,932$114,910
Median home value$427,600$1,073,100
Median rent (/mo)$1,360$2,554

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Chico, CA and Daly City, CA comes down to what you value most. Chico has the lower median home value, and Chico has the lower median rent.

Daly City has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chico or Daly City?
By median home value, Chico is the cheaper of the two ($427,600 vs $1,073,100). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Chico or Daly City?
Median household income is $65,932 in Chico versus $114,910 in Daly City, per the US Census Bureau.

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