Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Murphysboro, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Murphysboro, IL: $1,701 a month against $1,949 in San Jose, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,949
/mo nomad
Murphysboro, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$1,701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Jose and in Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,949 per month in San Jose vs $1,701 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • San Jose $1,949
  • Murphysboro, IL $1,701

A couple spends around $2,903 per month in San Jose vs $2,583 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • San Jose $2,903
  • Murphysboro, IL $2,583

A family of three spends $3,857 per month in San Jose vs $3,466 in Murphysboro, IL, rent included.

  • San Jose $3,857
  • Murphysboro, IL $3,466

San Jose costs about 15% more than Murphysboro, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both San Jose and Murphysboro, IL sit above the global median – San Jose by 45%, Murphysboro, IL by 27%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.22 ₡5,510
$17.97 $17.97
-32.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 ₡27.1K
$84.3 $84.3
-28.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 ₡5,305
$11.85 $11.85
-0.68%
Cappuccino
$4.30 ₡1,939
$6.79 $6.79
-36.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 ₡1,226
$2.95 $2.95
-7.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₡830
$2.47 $2.47
-25.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 ₡1,480
$6.86 $6.86
-52.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 ₡1,966
$7.78 $7.78
-43.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.38 ₡1,074
$0.83 $0.83
186.75%
White Bread (500g)
$3.12 ₡1,408
$1.81 $1.81
72.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.41 ₡1,086
$4.11 $4.11
-41.36%
Eggs
$3.47 ₡1,564
$4.12 $4.12
-15.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.57 ₡4,767
$13.19 $13.19
-19.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.56 ₡4,758
$9.81 $9.81
7.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.75 ₡6,196
$15.47 $15.47
-11.12%
Apples (1kg)
$5.04 ₡2,274
$5.95 $5.95
-15.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₡727
$1.53 $1.53
5.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 ₡2,069
$4.09 $4.09
12.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.84 ₡1,731
$4.87 $4.87
-21.15%
Potato (1kg)
$3.77 ₡1,700
$1.09 $1.09
245.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.76 ₡1,693
$2.03 $2.03
85.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₡506
$1.64 $1.64
-31.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 ₡1,441
$0.77 $0.77
315.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 ₡2,632
$10.35 $10.35
-43.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.73 ₡8,897
$9.99 $9.99
97.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75 ₡1,240
$2.51 $2.51
9.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ₡1,650
$4.21 $4.21
-13.06%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₡503
$2.05 $2.05
-45.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 ₡29.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 ₡1,110
$5.09 $5.09
-51.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 ₡692
$1.54 $1.54
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.46 ₡3,815
$20.65 $20.65
-59.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 ₡699
$1.01 $1.01
53.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ₡9.8M
$38.1K $38.1K
-43.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K ₡15.7M
$27.8K $27.8K
25.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.7 ₡42.7K
$190 $190
-50.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.11 ₡15.8K
$33.40 $33.40
5.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.6 ₡26.4K
$39.26 $39.26
49.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.2 ₡32.5K
$43.73 $43.73
65.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.19 ₡11.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.83 ₡3,532
$8.57 $8.57
-8.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$971 ₡437.9K
$1,436 $1,436
-32.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K ₡7.7M
$30.7K $30.7K
-44.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.6 ₡32.3K
$33.84 $33.84
111.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 ₡24.7K
$34.81 $34.81
57.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$129 ₡58.2K
$93.0 $93.0
38.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 ₡60.0K
$114 $114
16.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$934 ₡420.9K
$622 $622
50.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$770 ₡347.2K
$560 $560
37.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,945 ₡876.7K
$907 $907
114.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 ₡593.5K
$866 $866
52.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,277 ₡1.0M
$903 $903
152.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,795 ₡809.1K
$984 $984
82.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Murphysboro, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,006 ₡453.5K
$2,541 $2,541
-60.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.62
6.55
31.60%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 3, 2026

Last update for Murphysboro, IL: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Jose
$770
Murphysboro, IL
$560 27.2% $210
Groceries & Markets
San Jose
$399
Murphysboro, IL
$338 15.3% $61
Eating Out
San Jose
$228
Murphysboro, IL
$332 45.8% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
$188
Murphysboro, IL
$263 39.7% $75
Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
$175
Murphysboro, IL
$124 29% $51
Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
$88
Murphysboro, IL
$61 30.7% $27
Getting Around
San Jose
$80
Murphysboro, IL
$21 * 73.7% $59

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $934 in San Jose versus $622 in Murphysboro, IL. 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 153% higher in Murphysboro, IL, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose versus $84.0 in Murphysboro, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $399 in San Jose vs $338 in Murphysboro, IL – so Murphysboro, IL wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇷 San Jose
🇺🇸 Murphysboro, IL
🕒 Local time
14:44 2:44 PM
15:44 3:44 PM
1 h ahead of San Jose
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
342,188 Capital
7,500
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to CRC – Costa Rican Colón Converter

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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • San Jose Murphysboro, IL 3,140 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • San Jose
  • Murphysboro, 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 Murphysboro, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Jose or Murphysboro, IL?
San Jose costs about 15% more than Murphysboro, IL, 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Jose and in Murphysboro, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,924 per month in San Jose and $2,551 in Murphysboro, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Jose or Murphysboro, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Murphysboro, IL, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in San Jose and in Murphysboro, IL?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose and $84.0 in Murphysboro, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in San Jose or in Murphysboro, IL?
Groceries cost about 18% more in San Jose, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in San Jose or in Murphysboro, IL?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Murphysboro, IL, where all-in costs run around $1,701, than in San Jose at $1,949. In Murphysboro, IL it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Jose or Murphysboro, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Murphysboro, IL costs $1,701 versus $1,949 in San Jose. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to San Jose or to Murphysboro, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Murphysboro, IL. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

San Jose vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?