🙂A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,940 in Pocatello, ID, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,650 in Pocatello, ID, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $3,361 in Pocatello, ID, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 12% cheaper than Pocatello, ID, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Medellin and Pocatello, ID sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Pocatello, ID by 41%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$14.74$14.74
-45.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$49.70$49.70
-2.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$9.85$9.85
-0.81%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$4.91$4.91
-40.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$2.18$2.18
-11.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$1.72$1.72
-11.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$2.91$2.91
6.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$5.06$5.06
13.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$0.81$0.81
67.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$3.34$3.34
-28.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$4.46$4.46
-61.88%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$4.21$4.21
-31.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$8.70$8.70
14.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$12.37$12.37
-12.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$17.58$17.58
-16.21%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$4.23$4.23
-3.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.30$1.30
20.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$3.63$3.63
-41.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$3.23$3.23
-31.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$0.53$0.53
286.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$2.72$2.72
-44.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$1.91$1.91
-37.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$1.91$1.91
-39.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$10.15$10.15
-61.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$8.76$8.76
64.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$2.64$2.64
-40.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$3.46$3.46
-18.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$2.47$2.47
-48.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$2.24$2.24
-6.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$24.64$24.64
-65.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$0.92$0.92
41.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$36.0K$36.0K
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$24.4K$24.4K
45.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$156$156
13.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$53.3$53.3
-74.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$72.2$72.2
-58.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$37.71$37.71
18.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$15.01$15.01
13.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$12.60$12.60
-50.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$489$489
62.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$20.9K$20.9K
-56.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$49.61$49.61
72.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$45.11$45.11
29.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$81.2$81.2
67.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$69.8$69.8
47.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$1,130$1,130
-6.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$854$854
-20.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,672$1,672
20.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$1,112$1,112
5.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$1,992$1,992
106.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,979$1,979
-14.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$3,909$3,909
-82.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.04
81.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Pocatello, ID: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,130 in Pocatello, ID. 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 488% higher in Pocatello, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Pocatello, ID. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $352 – 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
Medellin vs Pocatello, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pocatello, ID cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Pocatello, ID is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $2,910 in Pocatello, ID. 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Pocatello, ID?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Pocatello, ID. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Pocatello, ID?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Pocatello, ID, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Pocatello, ID?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Pocatello, ID at $1,940. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pocatello, ID it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Pocatello, ID 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, Pocatello, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.