Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Longview, TX and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,949 a month against $2,640 in Longview, TX, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Longview, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,640
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Longview, TX and in San Jose

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

A single person spends $2,640 per month in Longview, TX vs $1,949 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longview, TX $2,640
  • San Jose $1,949

A couple spends around $4,126 per month in Longview, TX vs $2,903 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longview, TX $4,126
  • San Jose $2,903

A family of three spends $5,612 per month in Longview, TX vs $3,857 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Longview, TX $5,612
  • San Jose $3,857

Longview, TX costs about 35% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Longview, TX and San Jose sit above the global median – Longview, TX by 97%, San Jose by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.63 $18.63
$12.22 ₡5,510
52.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0 $54.0
$60.1 ₡27.1K
-10.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.63 $10.63
$11.77 ₡5,305
-9.69%
Cappuccino
$5.92 $5.92
$4.30 ₡1,939
37.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.72 ₡1,226
-3.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 $1.53
$1.84 ₡830
-16.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.28 ₡1,480
48.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 $7.12
$4.36 ₡1,966
63.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$2.38 ₡1,074
-60.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.04 $4.04
$3.12 ₡1,408
29.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.41 ₡1,086
35.27%
Eggs
$3.82 $3.82
$3.47 ₡1,564
10.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.74 $10.74
$10.57 ₡4,767
1.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.19 $11.19
$10.56 ₡4,758
5.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.24 $18.24
$13.75 ₡6,196
32.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$5.04 ₡2,274
-46.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.61 ₡727
8.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.59 ₡2,069
-15.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.84 ₡1,731
-27.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 $2.14
$3.77 ₡1,700
-43.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$3.76 ₡1,693
-48.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.12 ₡506
70.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 $1.32
$3.20 ₡1,441
-58.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.27 $9.27
$5.84 ₡2,632
58.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.94 $13.94
$19.73 ₡8,897
-29.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.75 ₡1,240
-23.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.66 ₡1,650
-7.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.12 ₡503
164.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.4 $65.4
$65.1 ₡29.4K
0.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.46 ₡1,110
23.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.25 $1.25
$1.54 ₡692
-18.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.97 $23.97
$8.46 ₡3,815
183.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.55 ₡699
-43.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$21.7K ₡9.8M
25.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$34.9K ₡15.7M
-27.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 $207
$94.7 ₡42.7K
118.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$92.0 $92.0
$35.11 ₡15.8K
161.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.6 $82.6
$58.6 ₡26.4K
41.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.0 $54.0
$72.2 ₡32.5K
-25.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.19 ₡11.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.54 $15.54
$7.83 ₡3,532
98.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,922 $1,922
$971 ₡437.9K
97.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.2K $28.2K
$17.0K ₡7.7M
65.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.41 $45.41
$71.6 ₡32.3K
-36.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.90 $47.90
$54.9 ₡24.7K
-12.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 $94.6
$129 ₡58.2K
-26.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$133 ₡60.0K
-4.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,469 $1,469
$934 ₡420.9K
57.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$770 ₡347.2K
69.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,983 $2,983
$1,945 ₡876.7K
53.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,665 $2,665
$1,316 ₡593.5K
102.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,070 $2,070
$2,277 ₡1.0M
-9.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 $1,977
$1,795 ₡809.1K
10.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Longview, TX
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,832 $3,832
$1,006 ₡453.5K
280.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
8.62
-23.20%

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

Last update for Longview, TX: October 4, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Longview, TX
$1.3K
San Jose
$770 40.9% $534
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Longview, TX
$382
San Jose
$188 50.7% $194
Groceries & Markets
Longview, TX
$353
San Jose
$399 12.9% $46
Eating Out
Longview, TX
$307
San Jose
$228 25.7% $79
Clothing & Footwear
Longview, TX
$142
San Jose
$175 23.2% $33
Getting Around
Longview, TX
$87
San Jose
$80 7.9% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Longview, TX
$85
San Jose
$88 3.2% $2.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,469 in Longview, TX versus $934 in San Jose. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 281% higher in Longview, TX, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Longview, TX versus $60.0 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $353 vs $399 – making Longview, TX the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Longview, TX
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
06:52 6:52 AM
05:52 5:52 AM
1 h behind Longview, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
81,638
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 505 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Longview, TX San Jose 2,740 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Longview, TX
  • San Jose

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
Longview, TX vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Longview, TX and in San Jose compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,640 in Longview, TX, $1,949 in San Jose – roughly 35% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Longview, TX compared to San Jose?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,961 per month in Longview, TX and $2,924 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Longview, TX and San Jose?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Jose, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Longview, TX and in San Jose?
Public transport costs about 1% less in San Jose. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Longview, TX and San Jose?
Kindergarten costs $1,922 per month in Longview, TX and $971 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,949, than in Longview, TX at $2,640. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Longview, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Longview, TX and San Jose?
It depends on your priorities. San Jose has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,949 in San Jose to $2,640 in Longview, TX. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Longview, TX and San Jose?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Longview, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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