Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Moline, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $2,197 in Moline, IL, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
Learn more

San Jose Living Index
107

Cost of Living Index in Moline, IL
Learn more

Moline, IL Living Index

Jump to prices

San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Moline, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$2,197

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Moline, IL

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

A single person spends $1,938 per month in San Jose vs $2,197 in Moline, IL, rent included.

San Jose $1,938
Moline, IL $2,197

A couple spends around $2,936 per month in San Jose vs $3,233 in Moline, IL, rent included.

San Jose $2,936
Moline, IL $3,233

A family of three spends $3,934 per month in San Jose vs $4,270 in Moline, IL, rent included.

San Jose $3,934
Moline, IL $4,270

San Jose is about 12% cheaper than Moline, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Moline, IL sit above the global median – San Jose by 44%, Moline, IL by 63%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.38 ₡5,551

$20.92 $20.92

-40.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 ₡27.3K

$89.0 $89.0

-31.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.45 ₡5,135

$8.36 $8.36

36.96%

Cappuccino

$4.39 ₡1,967

$4.90 $4.90

-10.41%

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

$2.70 ₡1,211

$2.63 $2.63

2.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 ₡864

$1.52 $1.52

26.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 ₡1,433

$3.90 $3.90

-17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,979

$4.10 $4.10

7.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.44 ₡1,093

$1.01 $1.01

141.58%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 ₡1,369

$3.98 $3.98

-23.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,081

$5.22 $5.22

-53.83%

Eggs

$3.40 ₡1,523

$3.32 $3.32

2.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.75 ₡4,823

$14.40 $14.40

-25.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.43 ₡4,679

$11.74 $11.74

-11.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 ₡6,273

$15.37 $15.37

-8.98%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,353

$5.15 $5.15

1.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 ₡712

$1.56 $1.56

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.69 ₡2,103

$4.05 $4.05

15.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₡1,770

$4.92 $4.92

-19.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.92 ₡1,760

$2.69 $2.69

45.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 ₡1,651

$2.71 $2.71

35.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ₡503

$2.14 $2.14

-47.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.19 ₡1,429

$2.74 $2.74

16.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.00 ₡2,692

$13.99 $13.99

-57.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.56 ₡8,771

$14.84 $14.84

31.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,263

$1.67 $1.67

68.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ₡1,611

$1.83 $1.83

96.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 ₡503

$1.05 $1.05

6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

$32.47 $32.47

105.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 ₡1,119

$3.19 $3.19

-21.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡733

$1.38 $1.38

18.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.50 ₡3,812

$25.22 $25.22

-66.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 ₡701

$1.18 $1.18

32.20%

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

$22.4K ₡10.0M

$36.4K $36.4K

-38.45%

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

$35.6K ₡16.0M

$24.1K $24.1K

47.57%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$190 $190

-49.92%

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

$35.58 ₡16.0K

$69.0 $69.0

-48.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.6 ₡26.3K

$60.7 $60.7

-3.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.6K

$49.98 $49.98

45.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

$38.94 $38.94

-36.18%

Cinema Ticket

$7.58 ₡3,401

$18.12 $18.12

-58.17%

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

$1,001 ₡449.0K

$1,518 $1,518

-34.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.1K ₡7.7M

$24.2K $24.2K

-29.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.5 ₡31.6K

$66.6 $66.6

5.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$51.8 $51.8

7.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.2K

$91.2 $91.2

42.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ₡58.7K

$79.7 $79.7

64.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 ₡415.8K

$986 $986

-6.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 ₡347.2K

$914 $914

-15.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,967 ₡882.0K

$1,440 $1,440

36.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 ₡577.6K

$1,311 $1,311

-1.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

$1,336 $1,336

70.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

$1,336 $1,336

37.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,016 ₡455.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.62

5.56

55.04%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Last update for Moline, IL: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

San Jose

$774 40%

Moline, IL

$914 41.6% 18% $139

Groceries & Markets

San Jose

$401 20.7%

Moline, IL

$405 18.4% 0.9% $3.6

Eating Out

San Jose

$229 11.8%

Moline, IL

$295 13.5% 28.9% $66

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Jose

$189 9.8%

Moline, IL

$320 14.6% 68.8% $130

Clothing & Footwear

San Jose

$174 9%

Moline, IL

$130 5.9% 25.2% $44

Sport & Entertainment

San Jose

$88 4.5%

Moline, IL

$86 3.9% 1.8% $1.6

Getting Around

San Jose

$82 4.2%

Moline, IL

$47 2.1% 42.9% $35

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $927 in San Jose versus $986 in Moline, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose versus $89.0 in Moline, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $405 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇷 San Jose

🇺🇸 Moline, IL

🕒 Local time

15:49 3:49 PM

16:49 4:49 PM

1 h ahead of San Jose

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

342,188 Capital

42,985

💱 Currency

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CRC in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

San Jose Moline, IL 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

San Jose
Moline, IL

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

San Jose vs Moline, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Moline, IL costs about 13% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,907 per month in San Jose and $3,295 in Moline, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in San Jose and $89.0 in Moline, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,938 in San Jose and $2,197 in Moline, IL. That's a gap of about 13%.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,938, than in Moline, IL at $2,197. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Moline, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Jose costs $1,938 versus $2,197 in Moline, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Moline, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.