$40K in Provo = $14,141 in Medellín

Your $40K salary in Provo (COL 99) has the same purchasing power as $14,141 in Medellín (COL 35). Medellín is cheaper — your money goes 65% further there.

$40K in Provo, UT
$2,572/mo take-home
Rent: $1,400/mo (54% of take-home)
Difficult
$14,141/yr in Medellín, CO
$965/mo take-home
Rent: $500/mo (52% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Provo
$40K
Medellín
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,572$2,728
1BR rent$1,400$500
Groceries$372$380
Transport$62$150
Utilities$148$55
Internet$63$30
Left after essentials$527/month$1,613/month
To match your Provo purchasing power in Medellín, you'd need to earn $14,141/year (65% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $-150/mo left after essentials — vs $527/mo in Provo.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Provo equivalent to in Medellín?

$40K in Provo (COL index 99) has the same purchasing power as $14,141 in Medellín (COL index 35). That's 65% less than your current salary.

If I move from Provo to Medellín keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Medellín, you'd have $1,086 more per month after core expenses — because Medellín is cheaper than Provo.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (35 ÷ 99) = $14,141. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only