Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Pullman, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Pullman, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,117 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,281 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,601 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,395 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,085 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,508 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 37% more than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chicago, IL and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 134%, Pullman, WA by 71%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.18 $20.18

$16.80 $16.80

20.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$66.3 $66.3

52.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.09 $12.09

$8.63 $8.63

40.09%

Cappuccino

$5.75 $5.75

$4.47 $4.47

28.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.13 $2.13

39.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.86 $1.86

32.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.04 $7.04

$6.13 $6.13

14.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.27 $8.27

$5.52 $5.52

49.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.03 $1.03

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.81 $3.81

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.86 $3.86

39.38%

Eggs

$4.52 $4.52

$5.55 $5.55

-18.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 $14.25

$21.65 $21.65

-34.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.04 $15.04

$14.52 $14.52

3.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 $18.84

$20.02 $20.02

-5.89%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.80 $3.80

35.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.02 $2.02

-15.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$3.65 $3.65

16.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$7.17 $7.17

-38.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.48 $2.48

3.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.61 $2.61

4.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 $2.52

$3.27 $3.27

-22.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.94 $2.94

-10.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.91 $14.91

$8.27 $8.27

80.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.19 $15.19

$17.24 $17.24

-11.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.75 $1.75

40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 $3.74

$8.91 $8.91

-58.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.98 $0.98

153.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 $73.6

$30.14 $30.14

144.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 $3.31

$4.05 $4.05

-18.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.69 $1.69

-19.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.06 $25.06

$29.59 $29.59

-15.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$0.94 $0.94

11.70%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.6K $32.6K

$19.7K $19.7K

65.85%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$20.3K $20.3K

30.54%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$187 $187

$105 $105

78.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$83.3 $83.3

-23.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$59.6 $59.6

10.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.1 $77.1

$29.83 $29.83

158.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.92 $12.92

$10.11 $10.11

27.79%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$14.95 $14.95

1.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,029 $2,029

$1,218 $1,218

66.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$38.7K $38.7K

$23.0K $23.0K

68.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 $63.5

$50.7 $50.7

25.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 $52.1

$22.70 $22.70

129.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 $96.1

$99.6 $99.6

-3.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$158 $158

-6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,343 $2,343

$1,192 $1,192

96.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,623 $1,623

$1,003 $1,003

61.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,601 $4,601

$2,160 $2,160

113.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,774 $2,774

$1,683 $1,683

64.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,933 $3,933

$2,230 $2,230

76.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,562 $2,562

$2,188 $2,188

17.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,176 $5,176

$3,476 $3,476

48.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.3

4.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: June 14, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,343 in Chicago, IL versus $1,192 in Pullman, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 49% higher in Chicago, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL versus $66.0 in Pullman, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $446 in Chicago, IL vs $487 in Pullman, WA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chicago, IL vs Pullman, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,117 in Chicago, IL, $2,281 in Pullman, WA – roughly 37% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,675 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,422 in Pullman, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pullman, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Chicago, IL and $66.0 in Pullman, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Pullman, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,281, than in Chicago, IL at $3,117. In Pullman, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,281 in Pullman, WA to $3,117 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pullman, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.