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Chico, CA

Cost of living in Butte County, CA

Part of the Chico Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,098/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 209,470 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,126 36%
Healthcare $480 15%
Federal tax $427 14%
Groceries $397 13%
Transport $320 10%
Energy $217 7%
State tax $71 2%
Water $60 2%

Rent in Butte County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,069
per month
1 bedroom
$1,126
per month
2 bedroom
$1,466
per month
3 bedroom
$2,054
per month
4 bedroom
$2,462
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Butte County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$68,574
per year
Individual earnings
$36,181
per year
Per capita
$37,965
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Butte County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$408,700
Annual property tax
$2,819

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Butte County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$167
per month · 30.4¢/kWh
Natural gas
$50
per month
Annual total
$2,604
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Butte County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
6.4%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Butte County

State and local tax rates for California.

State income tax
13.3%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
7.3%
Combined sales tax
8.8%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Butte County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.2 min
Drive alone
72.6%
Public transit
0.7%
Work from home
11.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Butte County

What it costs to live in Butte County each month.

Single person
$3,098
per month
  • Rent $1,126
  • Energy $217
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $397
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $427
  • State tax $71
Couple
$4,783
per month
  • Rent $1,466
  • Energy $260
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $658
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $792
  • State tax $253
Family
$7,578
per month
  • Rent $2,054
  • Energy $326
  • Water $85
  • Groceries $998
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $792
  • State tax $253

Frequently asked questions about Butte County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Butte County?

In Butte County, CA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,126 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,466 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,054 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Butte County?

In Butte County, CA, the average household income is $68,574 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $36,181 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Butte County?

The estimated cost of living in Butte County, CA is approximately $3,098 per month for a single person, $4,783 for a couple, $7,578 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Butte County?

The combined sales tax rate in Butte County, CA is 8.85%, which includes the California state rate of 7.25% plus an average local rate of 1.60%.

Is Butte County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Butte County, CA would need approximately $3,098 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $68,574 per year ($5,715 per month). Butte County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Butte County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Butte County, CA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 6.4% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Butte County?

The average home value in Butte County, CA is $408,700, with average annual property taxes of $2,819, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Butte County compare to other areas?

You can compare Butte County, CA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Butte County is in the Chico, CA metro area.

Other counties in California

Browse the full list of counties in California, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in California

Compare Butte County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources