| Index | Joliet | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing | 109 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 106 | 100 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Joliet? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Joliet stands at 102, making it 2% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Joliet are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Joliet can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Wondering if Joliet is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Joliet, for example, the median home price is 7.4% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 11.7% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Joliet boasting a median household income of $110,204, which is 35.5% higher than the national average.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Joliet, healthcare costs are 2.8% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Joliet, the groceries index is 1.1% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Joliet comes in at 0.9% higher than the national average.
The Joliet cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $137,745 | $11,479 | $3,214 | $4,133 |
| Renters | $56,639 | $4,720 | $1,321 | $1,699 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Wilmington village, IL | 150 | 79 | 21.3% |
| Preston Heights, IL | 2,583 | 92 | 7.8% |
| Ingalls Park, IL | 3,100 | 92 | 7.6% |
| Fairmont, IL | 2,777 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Symerton, IL | 74 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Joliet, IL | 152,137 | 102 | 2.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bellevue, WA | 151,975 | 203 | 103.2% |
| Naperville, IL | 151,582 | 133 | 32.6% |
| Killeen, TX | 152,944 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Rockford, IL | 151,169 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Escondido, CA | 153,941 | 150 | 49.9% |
| Joliet, IL | 152,137 | 102 | 2.4% |