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 $3,383 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,281 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,196 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $3,404 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,008 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $4,527 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 48% more than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fullerton, CA and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – Fullerton, CA by 152%, Pullman, WA by 70%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.15 $25.15

$16.59 $16.59

51.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$64.7 $64.7

29.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.70 $8.70

30.00%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$4.42 $4.42

22.62%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 $2.19

25.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.80 $1.80

12.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.28 $7.28

$5.95 $5.95

22.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.62 $8.62

$5.52 $5.52

56.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$0.95 $0.95

25.26%

White Bread (500g)

$4.00 $4.00

$3.84 $3.84

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$3.93 $3.93

5.34%

Eggs

$4.38 $4.38

$5.37 $5.37

-18.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$21.40 $21.40

-49.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.79 $8.79

$14.18 $14.18

-38.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$19.76 $19.76

-25.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.38 $3.38

$3.88 $3.88

-12.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.03 $2.03

-5.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$3.46 $3.46

9.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.60 $5.60

$6.92 $6.92

-19.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.42 $2.42

35.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.52 $2.52

29.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 $1.49

$3.28 $3.28

-54.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.06 $3.06

-31.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$8.46 $8.46

30.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.27 $15.27

$17.10 $17.10

-10.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.75 $1.75

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 $4.65

$9.25 $9.25

-49.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.03 $1.03

122.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.3 $63.3

$29.83 $29.83

112.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$3.96 $3.96

2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.77 $1.77

-6.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.28 $32.28

$29.59 $29.59

9.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 $1.27

$0.93 $0.93

36.56%

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

$24.2K $24.2K

$20.3K $20.3K

19.62%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$20.2K $20.2K

19.39%

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

$198 $198

$103 $103

91.43%

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

$49.86 $49.86

$84.7 $84.7

-41.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$58.7 $58.7

11.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.74 $39.74

$29.86 $29.86

33.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 $9.81

Cinema Ticket

$14.07 $14.07

$15.29 $15.29

-7.98%

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

$1,378 $1,378

$1,213 $1,213

13.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.4K $39.4K

$23.5K $23.5K

67.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 $70.3

$51.2 $51.2

37.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.06 $35.06

$22.07 $22.07

58.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 $83.9

$100 $100

-16.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$161 $161

-26.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$1,199 $1,199

118.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,017 $2,017

$1,036 $1,036

94.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,887 $3,887

$2,162 $2,162

79.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,012 $4,012

$1,644 $1,644

144.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,437 $5,437

$2,269 $2,269

139.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,226 $2,226

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$3,530 $3,530

30.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.3

4.44%

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

Last update for Fullerton, CA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,625 in Fullerton, CA versus $1,199 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 31% 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 $84.0 in Fullerton, CA versus $65.0 in Pullman, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Fullerton, CA vs $483 in Pullman, WA – so Fullerton, CA 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,383 in Fullerton, CA, $2,281 in Pullman, WA – roughly 48% apart. Fullerton, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,075 per month in Fullerton, CA 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,378 per month in Fullerton, CA and $1,213 in Pullman, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 29% cheaper in Fullerton, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Pullman, WA, where all-in costs run around $2,281, than in Fullerton, CA at $3,383. 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 $2,281 in Pullman, WA to $3,383 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.