B-
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
0%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
36%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Pullman Washington National
Cost of living114118100
Goods & Services100111100
Groceries111110100
Health care112120100
Housing136135100
Transportation118123100
Utilities9792100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Pullman, WA

The cost of living in Pullman affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Pullman is 114, which is 14% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Pullman cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 36.1% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Pullman, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 10.8% higher than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Pullman?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 9 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Pullman. The results indicated that 33% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 67% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Pullman Affordable?

Is Pullman an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Pullman, the median home price is 55.8% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 9.8% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Pullman come in at $32,073, which is 42% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Pullman?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Pullman, the transportation index is 17.5% higher than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Pullman cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Pullman is 3% lower than the Washington average
  • The cost of living in Pullman is 14% higher than the national average
  • Pullman housing is 36% higher than the national average
  • Washington general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Washington state income tax is 100% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Pullman

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Compare Pullman, WA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$97,776$8,148$2,281$2,934
      Renters$21,695$1,808$506$651
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Pullman, WA, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Pullman have a median income of $97,776. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,281 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $21,695, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $506.

      Washington Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Washington 6.5% 10.4%

      Washington Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Washington 0% 0%

      Goods & Services

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      Haircut $27.83$24.2614.7%
      Beauty Salon $51.82$45.5613.7%
      Toothpaste $3.72$3.700.4%
      Shampoo $1.29$1.280.6%
      Movie $14.89$12.1322.7%
      Bowling $23.19$18.0028.8%

      Groceries

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.17$5.845.7%
      Fried Chicken $2.22$1.5741.0%
      Milk $4.92$4.675.3%
      Potatoes $4.89$4.930.9%
      Pizza $11.23$12.097.1%
      Beer $11.57$10.4111.1%

      Health Care

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $165.73$125.6831.9%
      Doctor $168.55$135.7824.1%
      Dentist $118.01$113.294.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.49$10.657.9%
      Lipitor $477.18$468.601.8%

      Housing

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      Home Price $287,700.00$184,700.0055.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,282.29$2,346.692.7%
      Apartment Rent $856.00$949.009.8%

      Transportation

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $4.30$3.4624.2%
      Tire Balancing $60.58$59.921.1%

      Utilities

      Item Pullman National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $178.20$193.998.1%
      Phone $201.25$192.254.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Onaway, ID205954.9%
      Albion, WA677990.8%
      Colfax, WA2,8791000.4%
      Potlatch, ID8361000.3%
      Palouse, WA9691000.1%
      Pullman, WA33,97411414.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Merritt Island, FL33,97511211.8%
      Salisbury, NC33,961909.7%
      North Ridgeville, OH33,961991.3%
      Sun Prairie, WI33,95411313.2%
      Cookeville, TN33,922927.8%
      Pullman, WA33,97411414.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.