Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Idaho Falls, ID and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,200 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,373 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,546 per month in Idaho Falls, ID vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.

Idaho Falls, ID costs about 117% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Idaho Falls, ID sits 63% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.13 $18.13

$6.14 COP 22.2K

195.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.84 $49.84

$33.05 COP 119.3K

50.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$7.32 COP 26.4K

34.43%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$1.66 COP 5,987

212.05%

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

$2.26 $2.26

$1.10 COP 3,987

105.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.78 COP 2,822

102.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 $3.98

$1.71 COP 6,188

132.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.17 COP 11.5K

115.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.11 COP 4,012

-19.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$1.31 COP 4,719

146.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.66 $3.66

$1.38 COP 4,980

165.22%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$2.22 COP 8,009

102.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.59 $10.59

$4.34 COP 15.7K

144.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.23 $10.23

$5.80 COP 20.9K

76.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$8.98 COP 32.4K

31.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.26 COP 8,164

45.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.11 COP 4,023

25.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.46 COP 5,284

80.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.37 COP 4,929

100.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.11 COP 4,009

50.45%

Onion (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$1.16 COP 4,199

116.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.89 COP 3,211

107.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$0.87 COP 3,124

118.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.83 $8.83

$2.35 COP 8,495

275.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.17 $15.17

$10.86 COP 39.2K

39.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.20 COP 4,330

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 $1.53

$2.48 COP 8,946

-38.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.79 COP 2,842

148.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.77 COP 147.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.42 COP 5,137

71.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.91 COP 6,900

-23.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.15 $25.15

$7.65 COP 27.6K

228.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.97 COP 3,490

-9.28%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$18.1K COP 65.3M

39.10%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.3K COP 95.0M

1.55%

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

$157 $157

$81.3 COP 293.5K

93.04%

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

$43.52 $43.52

$9.63 COP 34.8K

351.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 $58.0

$24.36 COP 88.0K

138.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.52 $38.52

$26.02 COP 93.9K

48.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$13.02 $13.02

$3.89 COP 14.0K

234.70%

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

$955 $955

$304 COP 1.1M

213.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.3K $18.3K

$5,902 COP 21.3M

209.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 $58.7

$58.7 COP 211.8K

0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 $43.45

$32.48 COP 117.2K

33.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$102 COP 367.3K

-16.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.2 $94.2

$108 COP 390.4K

-12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$993 $993

$474 COP 1.7M

109.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 $1,168

$371 COP 1.3M

215.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,878 $1,878

$848 COP 3.1M

121.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,182 $2,182

$716 COP 2.6M

204.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,864 $1,864

$2,871 COP 10.4M

-35.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,887 $1,887

$1,375 COP 5.0M

37.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,461 $3,461

$542 COP 2.0M

539.15%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $993 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $474 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 539% 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 in Idaho Falls, ID versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $190 – 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

Yes – Idaho Falls, ID is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,301 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,522 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,200 in Idaho Falls, ID and $1,014 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $955 per month in Idaho Falls, ID and $304 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Idaho Falls, ID at $2,200. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Idaho Falls, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.