😐A single person spends $2,217 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,396 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,576 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Idaho Falls, ID costs about 115% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Idaho Falls, ID sits 66% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.27$18.27
$6.16COP 20.1K
196.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1$50.1
$32.60COP 106.1K
53.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.83$9.83
$7.34COP 23.9K
33.92%
Cappuccino
$4.90$4.90
$1.72COP 5,599
184.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$1.05COP 3,420
122.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$0.77COP 2,515
111.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.09$4.09
$1.69COP 5,487
142.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10$7.10
$3.17COP 10.3K
123.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94$0.94
$1.05COP 3,423
-10.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.24$3.24
$1.30COP 4,236
149.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.68$3.68
$1.40COP 4,544
162.86%
Eggs
$4.45$4.45
$2.16COP 7,046
106.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.28$10.28
$4.39COP 14.3K
134.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.27$10.27
$5.88COP 19.1K
74.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.95$11.95
$8.64COP 28.1K
38.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$2.28COP 7,425
50.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36$1.36
$1.11COP 3,603
22.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64$2.64
$1.53COP 4,982
72.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66$2.66
$1.35COP 4,410
97.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.13COP 3,674
39.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59$2.59
$1.13COP 3,692
129.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86$1.86
$0.85COP 2,753
118.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$0.91COP 2,975
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.24$9.24
$2.34COP 7,629
294.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.71$7.71
$12.37COP 40.3K
-37.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$1.20COP 3,909
42.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46$1.46
$2.49COP 8,104
-41.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01$2.01
$0.84COP 2,727
139.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.44$2.44
$1.42COP 4,623
71.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40$1.40
$1.92COP 6,235
-27.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.04$25.04
$7.66COP 24.9K
226.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$0.99COP 3,223
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
40.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-0.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$159$159
$80.8COP 263.1K
96.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.39$43.39
$9.95COP 32.4K
336.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.5$58.5
$24.18COP 78.7K
142.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.88$37.88
$25.08COP 81.6K
51.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.03$13.03
$3.98COP 13.0K
227.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$938$938
$305COP 993.4K
207.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.3K$18.3K
$6,059COP 19.7M
202.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.1$59.1
$58.1COP 189.2K
1.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67$44.67
$32.20COP 104.8K
38.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5$84.5
$101COP 327.9K
-16.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8$95.8
$108COP 350.8K
-11.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992$992
$477COP 1.6M
108.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,135$1,135
$376COP 1.2M
201.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,914$1,914
$845COP 2.7M
126.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,232$2,232
$730COP 2.4M
205.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,838$1,838
$3,215COP 10.5M
-42.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,834$1,834
$1,372COP 4.5M
33.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Idaho Falls, ID
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,493$3,493
$617COP 2.0M
466.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.32
13.43
-52.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $477 in Medellin. 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 466% higher in Idaho Falls, ID, 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 $50.0 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $309 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Idaho Falls, ID vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Idaho Falls, ID?
Yes – Idaho Falls, ID is pricier by about 115%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,325 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Idaho Falls, ID and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,217 in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $938 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Idaho Falls, ID or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,217. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Idaho Falls, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Idaho Falls, ID or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Idaho Falls, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Idaho Falls, ID vs other spots: cost of living compared