Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Pullman, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Pullman, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,852 per month in New York, NY vs $2,035 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,370 per month in New York, NY vs $3,137 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,889 per month in New York, NY vs $4,240 in Pullman, WA, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 138% more than Pullman, WA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both New York, NY and Pullman, WA sit above the global median – New York, NY by 252%, Pullman, WA by 48%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$16.52 $16.52

53.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$74.1 $74.1

90.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$8.55 $8.55

63.39%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$4.98 $4.98

28.92%

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

$3.91 $3.91

$2.15 $2.15

81.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.88 $1.88

57.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$6.84 $6.84

14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$5.41 $5.41

82.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.93 $0.93

43.01%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$3.27 $3.27

44.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$2.21 $2.21

211.76%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$5.38 $5.38

4.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$15.97 $15.97

8.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$13.60 $13.60

10.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$16.72 $16.72

7.48%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$4.17 $4.17

44.36%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.44 $1.44

49.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$3.29 $3.29

79.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$5.59 $5.59

11.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.56 $2.56

32.81%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.03 $3.03

40.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.96 $1.96

36.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.90 $1.90

27.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$12.07 $12.07

54.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$14.16 $14.16

39.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.83 $1.83

77.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$4.75 $4.75

-17.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$0.98 $0.98

201.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$30.15 $30.15

360.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.01 $4.01

-24.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.76 $1.76

26.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$40.03 $40.03

3.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.16 $1.16

-6.90%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$20.1K $20.1K

75.82%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$20.4K $20.4K

22.77%

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

$236 $236

$107 $107

120.11%

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

$73.5 $73.5

$75.8 $75.8

-3.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$48.12 $48.12

58.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$29.48 $29.48

334.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

$10.09 $10.09

528.94%

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$15.21 $15.21

52.47%

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

$3,340 $3,340

$1,195 $1,195

179.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$21.7K $21.7K

176.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$52.7 $52.7

38.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$22.32 $22.32

142.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$102 $102

16.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$144 $144

-12.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$1,197 $1,197

273.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$834 $834

258.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$1,947 $1,947

373.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$1,513 $1,513

265.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

$2,231 $2,231

746.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

$2,186 $2,186

202.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$3,546 $3,546

50.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.23

4.17%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Pullman, WA: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,467 in New York, NY 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 50% higher in New York, NY, 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $74.0 in Pullman, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 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

New York, NY vs Pullman, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 138% more than Pullman, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,278 per month in New York, NY 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 $3,340 per month in New York, NY 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 28% more in New York, NY, 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 New York, NY at $4,852. In Pullman, WA it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pullman, WA costs $2,035 versus $4,852 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.