Cost of Living Comparison Between Pocatello, ID and Port Macquarie Cost of Living Comparison Between Pocatello, ID and Port Macquarie

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,797 in Pocatello, ID versus $2,058 in Port Macquarie.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,618 in Pocatello, ID versus $2,951 in Port Macquarie.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,440 in Pocatello, ID versus $3,845 in Port Macquarie.

Living in Pocatello, ID costs roughly 13% less than in Port Macquarie, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pocatello, ID 34% above, Port Macquarie 54% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.94 $15.94

$16.17 A$22.53

-1.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.17 $49.17

$64.6 A$90.1

-23.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.20 $11.20

$8.28 A$11.54

35.27%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$3.42 A$4.76

49.42%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$2.42 A$3.38

-11.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.68 A$2.34

7.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 $2.95

$5.95 A$8.29

-50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 $4.94

$5.82 A$8.11

-15.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.31 A$1.83

-38.17%

White Bread (500g)

$3.27 $3.27

$2.34 A$3.27

39.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.19 A$3.06

73.06%

Eggs

$2.43 $2.43

$3.83 A$5.34

-36.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 $8.90

$3.33 A$4.63

167.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 $10.38

$7.66 A$10.67

35.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.35 $16.35

$9.48 A$13.22

72.47%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$3.24 A$4.51

62.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 $1.38

$2.68 A$3.73

-48.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$2.59 A$3.61

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.64 A$5.07

-15.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.72 A$3.79

-61.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 $1.26

$2.15 A$2.99

-41.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 $1.86

$1.61 A$2.24

15.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.08 A$1.50

80.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.89 $8.89

$25.54 A$35.60

-65.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.08 $9.08

$10.63 A$14.81

-14.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$3.94 A$5.49

-50.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.09 A$4.31

-20.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 $0.98

$2.53 A$3.53

-61.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.1 A$90.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 $2.45

$2.24 A$3.11

9.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.57 A$2.18

-10.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.55 $24.55

$37.24 A$51.9

-34.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.12 A$1.56

-25.00%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$24.8K A$34.5K

0.34%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$20.7K A$28.8K

26.52%

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

$178 $178

$84.8 A$118

109.94%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$23.33 A$32.51

128.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$56.9 A$79.3

35.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.94 $37.94

$48.35 A$67.4

-21.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.70 $14.70

$15.92 A$22.18

-7.66%

Cinema Ticket

$14.11 $14.11

$9.70 A$13.52

45.46%

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

$484 $484

$901 A$1,256

-46.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.6K $18.6K

$12.1K A$16.9K

53.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.04 $45.04

$75.5 A$105

-40.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.43 $43.43

$44.66 A$62.2

-2.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$91.3 A$127

-11.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 $73.3

$107 A$149

-31.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 $890

$1,262 A$1,758

-29.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 $746

$1,083 A$1,509

-31.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 $1,315

$2,021 A$2,816

-34.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,112 $1,112

$1,621 A$2,259

-31.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,963 $1,963

$5,990 A$8,347

-67.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,964 $1,964

$5,210 A$7,260

-62.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,900 $3,900

$2,876 A$4,008

35.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

7.17%

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

Last update for Pocatello, ID: June 1, 2026

Last update for Port Macquarie: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $890 in Pocatello, ID and $1,262 in Port Macquarie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pocatello, ID pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Pocatello, ID vs $65.0 in Port Macquarie. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $277, with Port Macquarie cheaper for home cooking.

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

Pocatello, ID vs Port Macquarie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pocatello, ID is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Pocatello, ID pays 36% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $890 in Pocatello, ID versus $1,262 in Port Macquarie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $484 in Pocatello, ID versus $901 in Port Macquarie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pocatello, ID – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $65.0 in Port Macquarie. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,797 in Pocatello, ID versus $2,058 in Port Macquarie, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Pocatello, ID but tight or insufficient in Port Macquarie. The gap between the two cities makes Pocatello, ID the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Pocatello, ID and Port Macquarie are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pocatello, ID gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Port Macquarie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.