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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,608 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $3,106 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,127 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $4,599 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,646 per month in Puyallup, WA vs $6,092 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Puyallup, WA costs about 16% more than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Puyallup, WA and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Puyallup, WA by 163%, Chicago, IL by 126%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.52 $24.52

$19.86 $19.86

23.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.6 $79.6

$88.3 $88.3

-9.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.04 $15.04

$13.23 $13.23

13.68%

Cappuccino

$6.34 $6.34

$5.86 $5.86

8.19%

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

$3.25 $3.25

$2.61 $2.61

24.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 $2.89

$2.32 $2.32

24.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$7.03 $7.03

11.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.09 $8.09

$9.25 $9.25

-12.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$1.34 $1.34

-14.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.48 $4.48

$4.19 $4.19

6.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$5.50 $5.50

12.00%

Eggs

$5.31 $5.31

$4.71 $4.71

12.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.52 $18.52

$14.72 $14.72

25.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.78 $18.78

$14.53 $14.53

29.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.50 $23.50

$19.69 $19.69

19.35%

Apples (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$5.64 $5.64

3.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.97 $1.97

-9.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.21 $5.21

$4.04 $4.04

28.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$5.07 $5.07

29.78%

Potato (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$2.94 $2.94

30.27%

Onion (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$2.92 $2.92

13.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.28 $2.28

13.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.12 $3.12

-17.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.88 $11.88

$16.19 $16.19

-26.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.98 $17.98

$15.17 $15.17

18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.67 $2.67

-34.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 $4.87

$3.48 $3.48

39.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.01 $5.01

$2.54 $2.54

97.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$174 $174

$76.0 $76.0

128.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.16 $3.16

-17.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.37 $1.37

21.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.73 $29.73

$22.66 $22.66

31.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.20 $1.20

7.50%

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

$35.9K $35.9K

$37.0K $37.0K

-2.93%

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

$27.5K $27.5K

$26.0K $26.0K

5.71%

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

$283 $283

$190 $190

49.32%

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

$93.4 $93.4

$68.5 $68.5

36.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.3 $87.3

$61.1 $61.1

42.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.2 $72.2

$63.8 $63.8

13.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.02 $20.02

$27.80 $27.80

-27.99%

Cinema Ticket

$18.20 $18.20

$18.28 $18.28

-0.44%

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

$2,968 $2,968

$1,525 $1,525

94.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.3K $31.3K

$32.0K $32.0K

-2.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 $61.9

$64.0 $64.0

-3.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.97 $44.97

$54.4 $54.4

-17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$127 $127

$101 $101

26.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$160 $160

$153 $153

4.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,891 $1,891

$2,421 $2,421

-21.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,752 $1,752

$1,690 $1,690

3.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,719 $2,719

$4,584 $4,584

-40.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,493 $2,493

$2,782 $2,782

-10.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,170 $4,170

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,739 $2,739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,908 $6,908

$4,777 $4,777

44.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.24

6.38

-2.19%

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

Last update for Puyallup, WA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,891 in Puyallup, WA versus $2,421 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 45% 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 $88.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $529 in Puyallup, WA vs $465 in Chicago, IL – so Chicago, IL 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,608 in Puyallup, WA, $3,106 in Chicago, IL – roughly 16% apart. Puyallup, WA costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,413 per month in Puyallup, WA and $4,659 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 14% 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 $88.0 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 $3,608 in Puyallup, WA and $3,106 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 $3,106 in Chicago, IL to $3,608 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.