Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Simi Valley, CA and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,938 a month against $3,291 in Simi Valley, CA, rent and utilities included – about $16,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

162

Cost of Living Index in Simi Valley, CA
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Simi Valley, CA Living Index
94

Cost of Living Index in San Jose
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San Jose Living Index

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Simi Valley, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,291

/mo nomad

San Jose

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,938

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,291 per month in Simi Valley, CA vs $1,938 in San Jose, rent included.

Simi Valley, CA $3,291
San Jose $1,938

A couple spends around $4,712 per month in Simi Valley, CA vs $2,936 in San Jose, rent included.

Simi Valley, CA $4,712
San Jose $2,936

A family of three spends $6,133 per month in Simi Valley, CA vs $3,934 in San Jose, rent included.

Simi Valley, CA $6,133
San Jose $3,934

Simi Valley, CA costs about 70% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Simi Valley, CA and San Jose sit above the global median – Simi Valley, CA by 144%, San Jose by 44%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$23.12 $23.12

$12.38 ₡5,551

86.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 $70.0

$60.9 ₡27.3K

14.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.59 $11.59

$11.45 ₡5,135

1.22%

Cappuccino

$5.29 $5.29

$4.39 ₡1,967

20.50%

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

$2.05 $2.05

$2.70 ₡1,211

-24.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.93 ₡864

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.35 $7.35

$3.20 ₡1,433

129.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.41 ₡1,979

36.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$2.44 ₡1,093

-52.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 $2.44

$3.05 ₡1,369

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.41 ₡1,081

85.48%

Eggs

$4.57 $4.57

$3.40 ₡1,523

34.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$10.75 ₡4,823

14.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.20 $11.20

$10.43 ₡4,679

7.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.95 $13.95

$13.99 ₡6,273

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$5.25 ₡2,353

-25.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 $1.78

$1.59 ₡712

11.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.73 $3.73

$4.69 ₡2,103

-20.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$3.95 ₡1,770

68.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$3.92 ₡1,760

-33.42%

Onion (1kg)

$3.45 $3.45

$3.68 ₡1,651

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.12 ₡503

81.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$3.19 ₡1,429

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.68 $11.68

$6.00 ₡2,692

94.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.06 $12.06

$19.56 ₡8,771

-38.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.82 ₡1,263

-36.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 $3.13

$3.59 ₡1,611

-12.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.12 ₡503

59.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 ₡30.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.44 $4.44

$2.50 ₡1,119

77.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.63 ₡733

11.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.72 $35.72

$8.50 ₡3,812

320.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.56 ₡701

-15.38%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$22.4K ₡10.0M

62.48%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$35.6K ₡16.0M

-28.20%

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

$211 $211

$95.2 ₡42.7K

121.64%

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

$62.5 $62.5

$35.58 ₡16.0K

75.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.0 $69.0

$58.6 ₡26.3K

17.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.23 $30.23

$72.7 ₡32.6K

-58.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.85 ₡11.1K

Cinema Ticket

$11.96 $11.96

$7.58 ₡3,401

57.78%

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

$1,196 $1,196

$1,001 ₡449.0K

19.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.0K $43.0K

$17.1K ₡7.7M

150.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 $75.1

$70.5 ₡31.6K

6.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.02 $40.02

$55.8 ₡25.0K

-28.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 $81.0

$130 ₡58.2K

-37.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$171 $171

$131 ₡58.7K

30.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,071 $2,071

$927 ₡415.8K

123.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,986 $1,986

$774 ₡347.2K

156.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 $2,450

$1,967 ₡882.0K

24.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,287 $3,287

$1,288 ₡577.6K

155.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,274 ₡1.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₡821.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,023 $5,023

$1,016 ₡455.8K

394.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.64

8.62

-22.97%

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

Last update for Simi Valley, CA: October 11, 2026

Last update for San Jose: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Simi Valley, CA

$2K 60.3%

San Jose

$774 40% 61% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Simi Valley, CA

$375 11.4%

San Jose

$401 20.7% 7% $26

Eating Out

Simi Valley, CA

$348 10.6%

San Jose

$229 11.8% 34.1% $119

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Simi Valley, CA

$343 10.4%

San Jose

$189 9.8% 44.7% $153

Clothing & Footwear

Simi Valley, CA

$165 5%

San Jose

$174 9% 5.4% $9

Sport & Entertainment

Simi Valley, CA

$54 1.7%

San Jose

$88 4.5% 62.2% $34

Getting Around

Simi Valley, CA

$21 * 0.6%

San Jose

$82 4.2% 297% $61

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,071 in Simi Valley, CA versus $927 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 394% higher in Simi Valley, CA, 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 $70.0 in Simi Valley, CA versus $61.0 in San Jose. Groceries tell a different story – $375 in Simi Valley, CA vs $401 in San Jose – so Simi Valley, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Simi Valley, CA

🇨🇷 San Jose

🕒 Local time

14:48 2:48 PM

15:48 3:48 PM

1 h ahead of Simi Valley, CA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

121,288

342,188 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇨🇷 Costa Rican Colón (₡)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

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

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).

CRC to USD in detail →

On the map

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Simi Valley, CA San Jose 4,440 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Simi Valley, CA
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

Simi Valley, CA vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Simi Valley, CA is pricier by about 70%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,937 per month in Simi Valley, CA and $2,907 in San Jose. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,291 in Simi Valley, CA and $1,938 in San Jose. That's a gap of about 70%.

Kindergarten costs $1,196 per month in Simi Valley, CA and $1,001 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,938, than in Simi Valley, CA at $3,291. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simi Valley, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Jose – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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