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 $3,453 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $2,235 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,327 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $3,409 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,202 per month in Fullerton, CA vs $4,583 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

Fullerton, CA costs about 54% more than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Fullerton, CA and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – Fullerton, CA by 158%, Pullman, WA by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.07 $25.07

$16.44 $16.44

52.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.7 $83.7

$64.1 $64.1

30.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.31 $11.31

$8.66 $8.66

30.60%

Cappuccino

$5.42 $5.42

$4.37 $4.37

24.03%

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

$2.79 $2.79

$2.18 $2.18

27.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.87 $1.87

5.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.39 $7.39

$5.93 $5.93

24.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.26 $8.26

$5.38 $5.38

53.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$0.96 $0.96

30.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.96 $3.96

$3.70 $3.70

7.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$4.00 $4.00

1.25%

Eggs

$4.54 $4.54

$5.42 $5.42

-16.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$21.00 $21.00

-47.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.76 $8.76

$14.22 $14.22

-38.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.28 $14.28

$19.90 $19.90

-28.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.75 $3.75

-8.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 $1.92

$2.04 $2.04

-5.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.85 $3.85

$3.60 $3.60

6.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.67 $5.67

$7.07 $7.07

-19.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 $3.19

$2.39 $2.39

33.47%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.62 $2.62

24.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 $1.44

$3.37 $3.37

-57.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.93 $2.93

-26.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$8.43 $8.43

31.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.31 $13.31

12.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 $4.54

$9.27 $9.27

-51.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.03 $1.03

122.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.8 $63.8

$29.42 $29.42

116.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.09 $4.09

$3.98 $3.98

2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.76 $1.76

-2.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$32.03 $32.03

$28.89 $28.89

10.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$0.88 $0.88

40.91%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

$19.6K $19.6K

21.25%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$20.2K $20.2K

19.22%

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

$202 $202

$107 $107

88.12%

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

$50.1 $50.1

$85.7 $85.7

-41.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.3 $64.3

$58.4 $58.4

9.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.64 $39.64

$29.87 $29.87

32.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 $10.12

Cinema Ticket

$13.76 $13.76

$15.23 $15.23

-9.65%

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

$1,420 $1,420

$1,176 $1,176

20.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K $40.5K

$23.5K $23.5K

72.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 $68.6

$51.1 $51.1

34.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.14 $34.14

$22.85 $22.85

49.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.3 $85.3

$99.9 $99.9

-14.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$159 $159

-25.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,539 $2,539

$1,207 $1,207

110.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,045 $2,045

$1,002 $1,002

104.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,853 $3,853

$2,153 $2,153

79.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,988 $3,988

$1,651 $1,651

141.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,475 $5,475

$2,296 $2,296

138.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,174 $2,174

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,607 $4,607

$3,492 $3,492

31.94%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,539 in Fullerton, CA versus $1,207 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 32% 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 in Fullerton, CA versus $64 in Pullman, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $374 in Fullerton, CA vs $474 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: $3,453 in Fullerton, CA, $2,235 in Pullman, WA – roughly 54% apart. Fullerton, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,179 per month in Fullerton, CA and $3,352 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 $1,420 per month in Fullerton, CA and $1,176 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 27% cheaper in Fullerton, CA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,453 in Fullerton, CA and $2,235 in Pullman, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Fullerton, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,235 in Pullman, WA to $3,453 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.