Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pullman, WA: $2,297 a month against $3,072 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

146

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index
110

Cost of Living Index in Pullman, WA
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Pullman, WA Living Index

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Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Pullman, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,297

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chicago, IL and in Pullman, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chicago, IL and in Pullman, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,072 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,297 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $3,072
Pullman, WA $2,297

A couple spends around $4,545 per month in Chicago, IL vs $3,370 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $4,545
Pullman, WA $3,370

A family of three spends $6,019 per month in Chicago, IL vs $4,443 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Chicago, IL $6,019
Pullman, WA $4,443

Chicago, IL costs about 34% more than Pullman, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chicago, IL and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – Chicago, IL by 127%, Pullman, WA by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.39 $20.39

$16.78 $16.78

21.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.6 $88.6

$64.8 $64.8

36.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.85 $12.85

$8.62 $8.62

49.07%

Cappuccino

$5.78 $5.78

$4.64 $4.64

24.57%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.14 $2.14

28.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.81 $1.81

24.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.88 $6.88

$5.61 $5.61

22.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.24 $9.24

$5.65 $5.65

63.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.01 $1.01

24.75%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$3.64 $3.64

-2.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.38 $5.38

$3.78 $3.78

42.33%

Eggs

$4.55 $4.55

$5.40 $5.40

-15.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 $13.65

$21.22 $21.22

-35.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.07 $14.07

$14.09 $14.09

-0.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.06 $18.06

$23.43 $23.43

-22.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.04 $5.04

2.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.20 $2.20

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.88 $3.88

$3.42 $3.42

13.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$8.65 $8.65

-44.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.57 $2.57

9.34%

Onion (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.08 $3.08

-13.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 $2.07

$3.51 $3.51

-41.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.82 $2.82

7.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.90 $13.90

$8.34 $8.34

66.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$13.56 $13.56

10.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.70 $1.70

54.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$8.93 $8.93

-61.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.43 $2.43

$0.99 $0.99

145.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.3 $75.3

$30.23 $30.23

149.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 $3.17

$3.91 $3.91

-18.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$3.83 $3.83

-55.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.90 $24.90

$49.74 $49.74

-49.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.02 $1.02

25.49%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$19.9K $19.9K

79.43%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$19.6K $19.6K

36.56%

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

$192 $192

$105 $105

83.66%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$85.6 $85.6

-18.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.2 $62.2

$52.1 $52.1

19.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.79 $47.79

$30.33 $30.33

57.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.10 $27.10

$9.81 $9.81

176.25%

Cinema Ticket

$17.83 $17.83

$14.80 $14.80

20.47%

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

$1,815 $1,815

$1,223 $1,223

48.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.6K $40.6K

$21.4K $21.4K

90.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 $66.2

$52.6 $52.6

25.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.4 $51.4

$22.51 $22.51

128.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$99.1 $99.1

4.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$159 $159

-10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,531 $2,531

$1,204 $1,204

110.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,621 $1,621

$1,018 $1,018

59.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,828 $4,828

$1,982 $1,982

143.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,734 $2,734

$1,511 $1,511

80.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,163 $4,163

$2,245 $2,245

85.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,723 $2,723

$2,159 $2,159

26.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,924 $4,924

$5,600 $5,600

-12.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.78

6.54

3.67%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8%

Pullman, WA

$1K 44.3% 37.2% $603

Groceries & Markets

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3%

Pullman, WA

$498 21.7% 13.4% $59

Eating Out

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2%

Pullman, WA

$271 11.8% 21.2% $73

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5%

Pullman, WA

$242 10.6% 25.2% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3%

Pullman, WA

$150 6.5% 8.3% $14

Getting Around

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2%

Pullman, WA

$57 2.5% 40.8% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7%

Pullman, WA

$60 2.6% 28.2% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,531 in Chicago, IL versus $1,204 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 14% higher in Pullman, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL versus $65 in Pullman, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $439 in Chicago, IL vs $498 in Pullman, WA – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 Pullman, WA

🕒 Local time

02:48 2:48 AM

00:48 12:48 AM

2 h behind Chicago, IL

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

2,746,388

32,901

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

Chicago, IL Pullman, WA 2,400 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Chicago, IL
Pullman, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $3,072 in Chicago, IL, $2,297 in Pullman, WA – Pullman, WA comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,608 per month in Chicago, IL and $3,445 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,204 there versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Chicago, IL – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89 in Chicago, IL and $65 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 $2,297, than in Chicago, IL at $3,072. In Pullman, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pullman, WA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.