Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Spring Valley, IL and San Jose

For one person, living is cheaper in San Jose: $1,949 a month against $2,728 in Spring Valley, IL, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Spring Valley, IL outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Spring Valley, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,728
/mo nomad
San Jose
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,728 per month in Spring Valley, IL vs $1,949 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Spring Valley, IL $2,728
  • San Jose $1,949

A couple spends around $3,975 per month in Spring Valley, IL vs $2,903 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Spring Valley, IL $3,975
  • San Jose $2,903

A family of three spends $5,222 per month in Spring Valley, IL vs $3,857 in San Jose, rent included.

  • Spring Valley, IL $5,222
  • San Jose $3,857

Spring Valley, IL costs about 40% more than San Jose, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Spring Valley, IL and San Jose sit above the global median – Spring Valley, IL by 104%, San Jose by 45%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96 $19.96
$12.22 ₡5,510
63.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1 $67.1
$60.1 ₡27.1K
11.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.86 $12.86
$11.77 ₡5,305
9.26%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$4.30 ₡1,939
34.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 $3.13
$2.72 ₡1,226
15.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$1.84 ₡830
36.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.28 ₡1,480
116.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$4.36 ₡1,966
84.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$2.38 ₡1,074
-57.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$3.12 ₡1,408
11.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$2.41 ₡1,086
75.10%
Eggs
$3.59 $3.59
$3.47 ₡1,564
3.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.92 $14.92
$10.57 ₡4,767
41.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.10 $13.10
$10.56 ₡4,758
24.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.17 $20.17
$13.75 ₡6,196
46.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$5.04 ₡2,274
-6.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.61 ₡727
2.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.09 $5.09
$4.59 ₡2,069
10.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.83 $4.83
$3.84 ₡1,731
25.78%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$3.77 ₡1,700
-23.87%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$3.76 ₡1,693
-17.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.12 ₡506
94.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.20 ₡1,441
-26.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.71 $10.71
$5.84 ₡2,632
83.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.36 $15.36
$19.73 ₡8,897
-22.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.75 ₡1,240
-0.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 $4.34
$3.66 ₡1,650
18.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.81 $1.81
$1.12 ₡503
61.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$65.1 ₡29.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 $3.91
$2.46 ₡1,110
58.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.54 ₡692
31.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.86 $43.86
$8.46 ₡3,815
418.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.55 ₡699
-35.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$21.7K ₡9.8M
65.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$34.9K ₡15.7M
-27.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$94.7 ₡42.7K
186.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$35.11 ₡15.8K
52.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.4 $82.4
$58.6 ₡26.4K
40.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.59 $47.59
$72.2 ₡32.5K
-34.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.19 ₡11.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.14 $15.14
$7.83 ₡3,532
93.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,714 $1,714
$971 ₡437.9K
76.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$17.0K ₡7.7M
36.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.7 $64.7
$71.6 ₡32.3K
-9.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0 $51.0
$54.9 ₡24.7K
-7.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$129 ₡58.2K
-16.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$133 ₡60.0K
-9.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,722 $1,722
$934 ₡420.9K
84.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,275 $1,275
$770 ₡347.2K
65.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,873 $2,873
$1,945 ₡876.7K
47.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,116 $2,116
$1,316 ₡593.5K
60.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,935 $2,935
$2,277 ₡1.0M
28.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 $2,523
$1,795 ₡809.1K
40.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spring Valley, IL
San Jose
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,006 ₡453.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
8.62
-22.39%

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

Last update for Spring Valley, IL: 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
Spring Valley, IL
$1.3K
San Jose
$770 39.6% $504
Groceries & Markets
Spring Valley, IL
$429
San Jose
$399 7.1% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spring Valley, IL
$407
San Jose
$188 53.7% $218
Eating Out
Spring Valley, IL
$342
San Jose
$228 33.3% $114
Clothing & Footwear
Spring Valley, IL
$154
San Jose
$175 13.3% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Spring Valley, IL
$78
San Jose
$88 12.8% $10
Getting Around
Spring Valley, IL
$21 *
San Jose
$80 274% $58

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,722 in Spring Valley, IL 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Spring Valley, IL versus $60.0 in San Jose. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $399 – making San Jose the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Spring Valley, IL
🇨🇷 San Jose
🕒 Local time
04:47 4:47 AM
03:47 3:47 AM
1 h behind Spring Valley, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
33,066
342,188 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 12, 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
  • Spring Valley, IL San Jose 3,530 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Spring Valley, IL
  • 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
Spring Valley, IL vs San Jose: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Jose cheaper than Spring Valley, IL?
Yes – Spring Valley, IL is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,092 per month in Spring Valley, IL and $2,924 in San Jose. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Spring Valley, IL and in San Jose?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,728 in Spring Valley, IL and $1,949 in San Jose. That's a gap of about 40%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,714 per month in Spring Valley, IL and $971 in San Jose. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Spring Valley, IL or in San Jose?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in San Jose, where all-in costs run around $1,949, than in Spring Valley, IL at $2,728. In San Jose it covers expenses comfortably, while in Spring Valley, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Spring Valley, IL or San Jose more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Jose. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Spring Valley, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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