Kitchen remodel cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $19,500 – $33,200
- Per sq ft
- $158 – $264
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #39
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Chico area: $19,500 to $33,200 for 120 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% higher than the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Chico, CA, standard level
$23,600 to $29,100
About $190 to $232 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 20% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $22,000 |
| Labor | $4,800 | $5,900 |
| Permits and fees | $810 | $1,200 |
| Total | $23,600 | $29,100 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 | 76% |
| Labor | $4,000 | $5,350 | $6,700 | 20% |
| Permits and fees | $510 | $1,000 | $1,500 | 4% |
| Total | $19,500 | $26,400 | $33,200 | 100% |
Where the Chico price comes from
Labor is 20% of the midpoint bill here, against 20% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), electricians (15%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (15%), tile and stone setters (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (5%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Chico the blended ratio comes out at 1.07.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chico is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $20,000 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.2: $510 to $1,500.
Chico: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chico. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$19,500 to $25,000
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$23,600 to $29,100
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$27,700 to $33,200
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $16,300 – $21,000 | $19,800 – $24,400 | $23,300 – $27,900 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $19,500 – $25,000 | $23,600 – $29,100 | $27,700 – $33,200 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $32,200 – $41,000 | $38,800 – $47,700 | $45,500 – $54,300 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $48,000 – $61,100 | $57,800 – $70,900 | $67,600 – $80,700 |
Planning more than one job in Chico?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chico wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+10%) and shower pan lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,400 | +10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,800 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,100 | +8% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $41,500 – $84,100 | +9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,750 | −4% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,500 | −1% |
Who does the work: Chico trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Chico the blend is 1.07.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $34.75 an hour, 19% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.79 and $38.46 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 49.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $31.44 an hour, which is 3% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.55 and $42.44 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 40.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $29.20 an hour, 5% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $39.29 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 23.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.05 an hour, 14% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.24 and $29.70 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 3.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $24.20 and $35.21 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $22.66 an hour, 5% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.46 and $28.32 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 30.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $290 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $770. That is a swing of roughly 2.9% to 1.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chico has 78,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 241st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $24.79 | $34.75 | $38.46 | $29.12 | 1.19 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $27.55 | $31.44 | $42.44 | $30.38 | 1.03 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $24.06 | $29.20 | $39.29 | $30.67 | 0.95 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $21.24 | $23.05 | $29.70 | $26.77 | 0.86 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.20 | $29.52 | $35.21 | $28.33 | 1.04 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.46 | $22.66 | $28.32 | $23.75 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Chico
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
Scope
A full kitchen update is $15,000-$50,000, a large remodel $50,000-$70,000+, and a partial refresh $60-$150 per square foot (HomeGuide).
Chico against nearby metros and the rest of California
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Chico. Redding comes closest at about $26,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $19,500 – $33,200 | $26,400 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | +2% |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $19,600 – $33,300 | $26,400 | level |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $20,200 – $34,500 | $27,300 | +4% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $20,000 – $34,100 | $27,100 | +3% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $20,200 – $34,400 | $27,300 | +3% |
| California (statewide) | $20,100 – $34,300 | $27,200 | +3% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chico ranks #39 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chico is 3% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $20,200 – $34,400 | $27,300 | +3% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $21,200 – $36,100 | $28,700 | +9% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $19,100 – $32,600 | $25,800 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $20,400 – $34,700 | $27,600 | +5% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $20,700 – $35,200 | $28,000 | +6% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $19,800 – $33,600 | $26,700 | +1% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $20,200 – $34,500 | $27,300 | +4% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,200 | −8% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | −8% |
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Kitchen remodel in Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Chico?
For 120 sq ft, expect $19,500 to $33,200 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $23,600 to $29,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Chico?
About $158 to $264 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $510 to $1,500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $26,800, which is 2% more than Chico ($26,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 20% at the midpoint, or $5,350 out of $26,400. Materials are 76% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Chico?
$32,200 to $54,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Chico?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $510 to $1,500 for fees in the Chico area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($27,200 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Chico?
The BLS median is $34.75 an hour in the Chico area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.79 to $38.46.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Chico?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $19,500 to $25,000 and premium work $27,700 to $33,200. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Chico
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.