Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Quito and Pocatello, ID

For one person, living is cheaper in Quito: $1,014 a month against $1,942 in Pocatello, ID, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Quito, Ecuador
Pocatello, ID, United States
Quito
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$1,014
/mo nomad
Pocatello, ID
🇺🇸 United States
$1,942
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Quito and in Pocatello, ID

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Quito and in Pocatello, ID actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Quito versus $1,942 in Pocatello, ID.

  • Quito $1,014
  • Pocatello, ID $1,942

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Quito versus $2,673 in Pocatello, ID.

  • Quito $1,641
  • Pocatello, ID $2,673

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,269 in Quito versus $3,403 in Pocatello, ID.

  • Quito $2,269
  • Pocatello, ID $3,403

Living in Quito costs roughly 48% less than in Pocatello, ID, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Quito is 25% below, Pocatello, ID is 44% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.55 $5.55
$15.07 $15.07
-63.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.6 $54.6
$49.28 $49.28
10.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.63 $7.63
$10.16 $10.16
-24.90%
Cappuccino
$3.33 $3.33
$5.08 $5.08
-34.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$2.16 $2.16
-37.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.64 $1.64
-30.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.91 $2.91
26.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.16 $6.16
$4.98 $4.98
23.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 $1.15
$0.84 $0.84
36.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 $1.61
$3.36 $3.36
-52.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 $1.51
$4.01 $4.01
-62.34%
Eggs
$2.15 $2.15
$4.21 $4.21
-48.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.47 $6.47
$8.65 $8.65
-25.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.33 $5.33
$12.25 $12.25
-56.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.77 $7.77
$17.38 $17.38
-55.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$4.00 $4.00
-44.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.35 $1.35
-8.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$3.61 $3.61
-64.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.08 $1.08
$3.38 $3.38
-68.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.57 $0.57
117.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 $1.06
$2.42 $2.42
-56.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.93 $1.93
-52.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.88 $1.88
-47.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95 $5.95
$10.38 $10.38
-42.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.35 $8.35
$8.87 $8.87
-5.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.68 $2.68
-43.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$3.46 $3.46
-7.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.42 $21.42
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.43 $2.43
-37.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 $1.53
$2.25 $2.25
-32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.01 $10.01
$25.12 $25.12
-60.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.96 $0.96
-11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K $22.7K
$35.2K $35.2K
-35.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$23.5K $23.5K
25.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$28.99 $28.99
$157 $157
-81.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.94 $17.94
$52.4 $52.4
-65.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.85 $28.85
$70.6 $70.6
-59.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 $45.09
$38.78 $38.78
16.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.78 $17.78
$14.90 $14.90
19.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.75 $6.75
$12.48 $12.48
-45.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$743 $743
$485 $485
53.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,223 $8,223
$27.1K $27.1K
-69.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 $69.8
$49.21 $49.21
41.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3 $50.3
$45.40 $45.40
10.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 $113
$80.9 $80.9
39.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 $107
$69.7 $69.7
53.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$542 $542
$1,117 $1,117
-51.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 $354
$874 $874
-59.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 $1,141
$1,661 $1,661
-31.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 $638
$1,097 $1,097
-41.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,636 $1,636
$2,005 $2,005
-18.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$663 $663
$1,989 $1,989
-66.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quito
Pocatello, ID
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$603 $603
$3,953 $3,953
-84.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
6.46
56.66%

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

Last update for Quito: November 2, 2026

Last update for Pocatello, ID: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Quito
$354
Pocatello, ID
$874 147% $520
Groceries & Markets
Quito
$193
Pocatello, ID
$349 81% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Quito
$153
Pocatello, ID
$110 27.8% $43
Eating Out
Quito
$148
Pocatello, ID
$252 69.9% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quito
$76
Pocatello, ID
$280 269% $204
Sport & Entertainment
Quito
$59
Pocatello, ID
$64 8.8% $5.2
Getting Around
Quito
$32
Pocatello, ID
$14 * 57.2% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $542 in Quito and $1,117 in Pocatello, ID. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pocatello, ID pays about 6.6 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $55 in Quito vs $49 in Pocatello, ID. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $349, with Quito cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Quito
🇺🇸 Pocatello, ID
🕒 Local time
07:24 7:24 AM
05:24 5:24 AM
2 h behind Quito
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,671,191 Capital
56,320
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Quito Pocatello, ID 5,860 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Quito
  • Pocatello, ID

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Quito vs Pocatello, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quito cheaper than Pocatello, ID?
Quito is about 48% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Quito or Pocatello, ID?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Quito. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Quito and Pocatello, ID?
Rent for a central apartment: $542 in Quito versus $1,117 in Pocatello, ID. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $743 in Quito versus $485 in Pocatello, ID. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Quito or in Pocatello, ID?
Dining out is cheaper in Pocatello, ID – a meal for two runs $49 versus $55 in Quito. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Quito or in Pocatello, ID?
At $1,014 in Quito versus $1,942 in Pocatello, ID, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quito but tight or insufficient in Pocatello, ID. The gap between the two cities makes Quito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Quito or in Pocatello, ID?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Quito wins on affordability, Pocatello, ID on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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