CostIndexUSA

McAllen, TX vs Pocatello, ID Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent
ID
Pocatello
88.9
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

McAllen is slightly cheaper than Pocatello — 3.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in McAllen, you would need $82,800 in Pocatello. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+18.8%
McAllen
55.9
Pocatello
66.4
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
McAllen
93.8
Pocatello
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.8%
McAllen
101.1
Pocatello
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+2.8%
McAllen
91.4
Pocatello
94
Utilities14.0%
McAllen
81.2
Pocatello
69.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in McAllen to see what you'd need to earn in Pocatello to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Pocatello, ID
$82,800
$2,800 more needed in Pocatello

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.0349. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Pocatello, ID

Median Home Price
$339,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
66.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.3×

Pocatello has 18.8% higher housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Pocatello, ID

Median Household Income
$68,500
Per Capita Income
$39,000
Unemployment Rate
2.4%
Population
56,606
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Pocatello, ID
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.