Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Chicago, IL: $3,139 a month against $3,648 in Puyallup, WA, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

176

Cost of Living Index in Puyallup, WA
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Puyallup, WA Living Index
152

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

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Puyallup, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,648

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Puyallup, 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 Puyallup, WA and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,648 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Puyallup, WA $3,648
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $5,079 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Puyallup, WA $5,079
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $6,511 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Puyallup, WA $6,511
Chicago, IL $6,115

Puyallup, WA costs about 16% more than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Puyallup, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Puyallup, WA by 169%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.14 $25.14

$20.65 $20.65

21.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.1 $80.1

$90.2 $90.2

-11.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.89 $14.89

$12.94 $12.94

15.07%

Cappuccino

$6.70 $6.70

$5.60 $5.60

19.64%

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

$3.16 $3.16

$2.64 $2.64

19.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.27 $2.27

34.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.87 $7.87

$6.98 $6.98

12.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.83 $8.83

-7.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.27 $1.27

-9.45%

White Bread (500g)

$4.65 $4.65

$3.80 $3.80

22.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$5.30 $5.30

20.19%

Eggs

$5.43 $5.43

$4.76 $4.76

14.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.98 $17.98

$13.96 $13.96

28.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.62 $16.62

$14.61 $14.61

13.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.08 $23.08

$18.77 $18.77

22.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.88 $5.88

$5.19 $5.19

13.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.98 $1.98

-9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.13 $5.13

$3.93 $3.93

30.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$4.96 $4.96

29.84%

Potato (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.76 $2.76

27.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.76 $2.76

19.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.22 $2.22

18.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.98 $2.98

-16.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.37 $12.37

$14.02 $14.02

-11.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 $17.95

$15.28 $15.28

17.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.58 $2.58

-32.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.50 $3.50

40.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.47 $2.47

99.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$173 $173

$74.8 $74.8

130.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.34 $3.34

-20.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.43 $1.43

16.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.48 $30.48

$24.32 $24.32

25.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.26 $1.26

4.76%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$35.0K $35.0K

-4.88%

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

$27.3K $27.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

4.52%

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

$280 $280

$193 $193

45.54%

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

$90.6 $90.6

$68.3 $68.3

32.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$85.1 $85.1

$61.3 $61.3

38.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 $72.2

$54.1 $54.1

33.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.61 $19.61

$27.92 $27.92

-29.76%

Cinema Ticket

$18.33 $18.33

$17.74 $17.74

3.33%

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

$3,069 $3,069

$1,652 $1,652

85.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 $61.3

$66.1 $66.1

-7.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.23 $45.23

$51.2 $51.2

-11.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$100 $100

26.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 $160

$141 $141

13.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 $1,855

$2,446 $2,446

-24.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,779 $1,779

$1,678 $1,678

6.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,775 $2,775

$4,717 $4,717

-41.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,506 $2,506

$2,795 $2,795

-10.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,105 $4,105

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,650 $2,650

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,884 $6,884

$4,866 $4,866

41.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

6.81

-1.91%

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

Last update for Puyallup, WA: October 19, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Puyallup, WA

$1.8K 48.8%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 5.7% $102

Groceries & Markets

Puyallup, WA

$517 14.2%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 13% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Puyallup, WA

$456 12.5%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 29.4% $134

Eating Out

Puyallup, WA

$407 11.2%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 15.5% $63

Getting Around

Puyallup, WA

$203 5.6%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 53.2% $108

Clothing & Footwear

Puyallup, WA

$177 4.9%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 8.9% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Puyallup, WA

$109 3%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 17.7% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,855 in Puyallup, WA versus $2,446 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 41% higher in Puyallup, WA, 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 $80.0 in Puyallup, WA versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $517 in Puyallup, WA vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Puyallup, WA

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

03:52 3:52 AM

05:52 5:52 AM

2 h ahead of Puyallup, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

42,973

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Puyallup, WA Chicago, IL 2,790 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight

From you

Puyallup, WA
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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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,648 in Puyallup, WA, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,472 per month in Puyallup, WA and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chicago, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Puyallup, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Puyallup, WA and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,648 in Puyallup, WA and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $3,139 in Chicago, IL to $3,648 in Puyallup, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chicago, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puyallup, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.