Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Pullman, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fullerton, CA and Pullman, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,519 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,035 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,454 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $3,137 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,388 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $4,240 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 73% more than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fullerton, CA and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – Fullerton, CA by 155%, Pullman, WA by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.92 $24.92

$16.52 $16.52

50.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$74.1 $74.1

36.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.47 $11.47

$8.55 $8.55

34.15%

Cappuccino

$5.65 $5.65

$4.98 $4.98

13.45%

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

$2.80 $2.80

$2.15 $2.15

30.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.88 $1.88

4.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.84 $7.84

$6.84 $6.84

14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.86 $8.86

$5.41 $5.41

63.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.93 $0.93

37.63%

White Bread (500g)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.27 $3.27

48.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.21 $2.21

94.57%

Eggs

$4.89 $4.89

$5.38 $5.38

-9.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.91 $11.91

$15.97 $15.97

-25.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.85 $15.85

$13.60 $13.60

16.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.12 $15.12

$16.72 $16.72

-9.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$4.17 $4.17

34.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.44 $1.44

18.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.29 $3.29

24.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$5.59 $5.59

15.92%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$2.56 $2.56

28.91%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$3.03 $3.03

10.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.96 $1.96

7.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.90 $1.90

33.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.60 $11.60

$12.07 $12.07

-3.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.93 $14.93

$14.16 $14.16

5.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.83 $1.83

-3.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$4.75 $4.75

-42.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.27 $2.27

$0.98 $0.98

131.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.6 $63.6

$30.15 $30.15

111.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.01 $4.01

-22.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.76 $1.76

4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.72 $32.72

$40.03 $40.03

-18.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.16 $1.16

26.72%

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

$37.2K $37.2K

$20.1K $20.1K

85.44%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$20.4K $20.4K

27.08%

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

$217 $217

$107 $107

102.37%

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

$74.2 $74.2

$75.8 $75.8

-2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.1 $73.1

$48.12 $48.12

51.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.53 $39.53

$29.48 $29.48

34.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.09 $10.09

Cinema Ticket

$12.17 $12.17

$15.21 $15.21

-19.99%

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

$1,718 $1,718

$1,195 $1,195

43.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.5K $32.5K

$21.7K $21.7K

49.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

$52.7 $52.7

52.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.56 $41.56

$22.32 $22.32

86.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 $88.7

$102 $102

-12.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$173 $173

$144 $144

20.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,540 $2,540

$1,197 $1,197

112.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,024 $2,024

$834 $834

142.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,958 $3,958

$1,947 $1,947

103.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,049 $4,049

$1,513 $1,513

167.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,278 $5,278

$2,231 $2,231

136.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,186 $2,186

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,559 $4,559

$3,546 $3,546

28.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.23

-2.41%

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

Last update for Fullerton, CA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,540 in Fullerton, CA versus $1,197 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 29% higher in Fullerton, CA, 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 Fullerton, CA versus $74.0 in Pullman, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $400 – making Pullman, WA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Fullerton, CA vs Pullman, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,519 in Fullerton, CA, $2,035 in Pullman, WA – roughly 73% apart. Fullerton, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,278 per month in Fullerton, CA and $3,052 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,718 per month in Fullerton, CA and $1,195 in Pullman, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Fullerton, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Pullman, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,035, than in Fullerton, CA at $3,519. In Pullman, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fullerton, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Fullerton, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,035 in Pullman, WA to $3,519 in Fullerton, CA. 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, Fullerton, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.