Salary comparison
Nurse Practitioners: Modesto vs Chico
Modesto, CA pays about 3.8% more for nurse practitioners on paper — $173,380 vs $167,080. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Modesto comes out ahead by $6,300 a year in real buying power.
Modesto, CA
$173,380
$162,980
$217,360
$83.36
100
$173,380/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Chico, CA
$167,080
$156,430
$179,410
$80.33
100
$167,080/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,300 a year (3.8%) in favor of Modesto. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Modesto runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Chico sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Modesto is the better deal by $6,300 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Chico to Modesto for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do nurse practitioners earn more, Modesto or Chico?
Modesto pays $173,380 on median — about 3.8% more than Chico ($167,080). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Modesto. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Modesto gives you roughly$173,380 of real buying power versus $167,080 in the other city.