Last update: Oct 2026

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

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.

110

Cost of Living Index in Pullman, WA
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Pullman, WA Living Index
146

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

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Pullman, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,297

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,072

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pullman, WA is about 25% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.78 $16.78

$20.39 $20.39

-17.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 $64.8

$88.6 $88.6

-26.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.62 $8.62

$12.85 $12.85

-32.92%

Cappuccino

$4.64 $4.64

$5.78 $5.78

-19.72%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$2.74 $2.74

-21.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.26 $2.26

-19.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.61 $5.61

$6.88 $6.88

-18.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.65 $5.65

$9.24 $9.24

-38.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.26 $1.26

-19.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.55 $3.55

2.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$5.38 $5.38

-29.74%

Eggs

$5.40 $5.40

$4.55 $4.55

18.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.22 $21.22

$13.65 $13.65

55.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.09 $14.09

$14.07 $14.07

0.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.43 $23.43

$18.06 $18.06

29.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$5.16 $5.16

-2.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 $2.20

$1.98 $1.98

11.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.88 $3.88

-11.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.65 $8.65

$4.83 $4.83

79.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.81 $2.81

-8.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.67 $2.67

15.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.51 $3.51

$2.07 $2.07

69.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$3.03 $3.03

-6.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.34 $8.34

$13.90 $13.90

-40.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.56 $13.56

$15.05 $15.05

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.63 $2.63

-35.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.93 $8.93

$3.45 $3.45

158.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 $0.99

$2.43 $2.43

-59.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.23 $30.23

$75.3 $75.3

-59.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.17 $3.17

23.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.83 $3.83

$1.70 $1.70

125.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$49.74 $49.74

$24.90 $24.90

99.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.28 $1.28

-20.31%

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

$19.9K $19.9K

$35.8K $35.8K

-44.27%

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

$19.6K $19.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-26.77%

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

$105 $105

$192 $192

-45.55%

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

$85.6 $85.6

$69.6 $69.6

22.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 $52.1

$62.2 $62.2

-16.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 $30.33

$47.79 $47.79

-36.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.81 $9.81

$27.10 $27.10

-63.80%

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$17.83 $17.83

-16.99%

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

$1,223 $1,223

$1,815 $1,815

-32.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K $21.4K

$40.6K $40.6K

-47.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$66.2 $66.2

-20.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.51 $22.51

$51.4 $51.4

-56.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 $99.1

$103 $103

-4.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$159 $159

$143 $143

11.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 $1,204

$2,531 $2,531

-52.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 $1,018

$1,621 $1,621

-37.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,982 $1,982

$4,828 $4,828

-58.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$2,734 $2,734

-44.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,245 $2,245

$4,163 $4,163

-46.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,159 $2,159

$2,723 $2,723

-20.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,600 $5,600

$4,924 $4,924

13.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.78

-3.54%

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

Last update for Pullman, WA: October 31, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Pullman, WA

$1K 44.3%

Chicago, IL

$1.6K 52.8% 59.2% $603

Groceries & Markets

Pullman, WA

$498 21.7%

Chicago, IL

$439 14.3% 11.8% $59

Eating Out

Pullman, WA

$271 11.8%

Chicago, IL

$344 11.2% 27% $73

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Pullman, WA

$242 10.6%

Chicago, IL

$324 10.5% 33.7% $82

Clothing & Footwear

Pullman, WA

$150 6.5%

Chicago, IL

$164 5.3% 9.1% $14

Sport & Entertainment

Pullman, WA

$60 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$83 2.7% 39.3% $24

Getting Around

Pullman, WA

$57 2.5%

Chicago, IL

$97 3.2% 68.9% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,204 in Pullman, WA versus $2,531 in Chicago, IL. 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 $65 in Pullman, WA versus $89 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $498 in Pullman, WA vs $439 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Pullman, WA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

10:52 10:52 AM

12:52 12:52 PM

2 h ahead of Pullman, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

32,901

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Between locations

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

From you

Pullman, WA
Chicago, IL

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

Pullman, WA vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,445 per month in Pullman, WA and $4,608 in Chicago, IL. 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 $65 in Pullman, WA and $89 in Chicago, IL. 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.