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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,582 in Port Macquarie versus $1,940 in Pocatello, ID.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,633 in Port Macquarie versus $2,650 in Pocatello, ID.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,684 in Port Macquarie versus $3,361 in Pocatello, ID.

Living in Port Macquarie is roughly 33% more expensive than in Pocatello, ID, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Port Macquarie 88% above, Pocatello, ID 41% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.08 A$25.10

$14.74 $14.74

22.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$90.9 A$126

$49.70 $49.70

82.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 A$14.78

$9.85 $9.85

8.02%

Cappuccino

$3.87 A$5.38

$4.91 $4.91

-21.18%

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

$2.48 A$3.44

$2.18 $2.18

13.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 A$2.31

$1.72 $1.72

-2.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.30 A$8.75

$2.91 $2.91

116.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.29 A$8.74

$5.06 $5.06

24.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 A$2.94

$0.81 $0.81

161.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.18 A$4.41

$3.34 $3.34

-4.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.79 A$3.87

$4.46 $4.46

-37.44%

Eggs

$5.42 A$7.53

$4.21 $4.21

28.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 A$7.51

$8.70 $8.70

-37.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.69 A$14.83

$12.37 $12.37

-13.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.66 A$17.57

$17.58 $17.58

-27.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.21 A$4.46

$4.23 $4.23

-24.11%

Banana (1kg)

$4.51 A$6.27

$1.30 $1.30

246.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.54 A$3.52

$3.63 $3.63

-30.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 A$7.05

$3.23 $3.23

57.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.46 A$3.41

$0.53 $0.53

364.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 A$3.55

$2.72 $2.72

-5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 A$2.37

$1.91 $1.91

-10.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 A$2.32

$1.91 $1.91

-12.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.03 A$54.2

$10.15 $10.15

284.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.88 A$15.10

$8.76 $8.76

24.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.35 A$6.04

$2.64 $2.64

64.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.51 A$7.65

$3.46 $3.46

59.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.07 A$4.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.9 A$128

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.00 A$5.55

$2.47 $2.47

61.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 A$2.09

$2.24 $2.24

-32.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$38.57 A$53.5

$24.64 $24.64

56.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 A$1.80

$0.92 $0.92

41.30%

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

$27.3K A$37.9K

$36.0K $36.0K

-24.12%

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

$22.7K A$31.5K

$24.4K $24.4K

-7.17%

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

$214 A$297

$156 $156

37.34%

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

$31.35 A$43.52

$53.3 $53.3

-41.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 A$87.9

$72.2 $72.2

-12.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.2 A$73.8

$37.71 $37.71

40.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.23 A$14.20

$15.01 $15.01

-31.85%

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 A$15.31

$12.60 $12.60

-12.46%

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

$2,239 A$3,108

$489 $489

357.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K A$29.8K

$20.9K $20.9K

2.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.3 A$105

$49.61 $49.61

51.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 A$76.9

$45.11 $45.11

22.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 A$151

$81.2 $81.2

33.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 A$166

$69.8 $69.8

71.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,437 A$1,995

$1,130 $1,130

27.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 A$1,799

$854 $854

51.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,248 A$3,121

$1,672 $1,672

34.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,759 A$2,442

$1,112 $1,112

58.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,544 A$9,085

$1,992 $1,992

228.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,127 A$7,117

$1,979 $1,979

159.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,915 A$4,046

$3,909 $3,909

-25.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.04

-11.75%

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

Last update for Port Macquarie: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pocatello, ID: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,437 in Port Macquarie and $1,130 in Pocatello, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pocatello, ID pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $91.0 in Port Macquarie vs $50.0 in Pocatello, ID for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $366 vs $352 per month, with Pocatello, ID cheaper across the board.

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

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

Pocatello, ID is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Pocatello, ID. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,437 in Port Macquarie versus $1,130 in Pocatello, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,239 in Port Macquarie versus $489 in Pocatello, ID. 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 $50.0 versus $91.0 in Port Macquarie. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,940 in Pocatello, ID versus $2,582 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, Port Macquarie and Pocatello, ID 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 33% less than in Port Macquarie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.