Albany vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Albany
Joliet
The Verdict
Joliet is 4.2% less expensive than Albany overall. A household earning $75,000 in Albany would need approximately $71,970 in Joliet to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Albany has the same purchasing power as $71,970 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $78,158 in Albany.
Living in Albany vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Albany's housing index of 93 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $275,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Albany compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Albany and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Albany vs $480/month in Joliet. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Albany and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Albany vs $376 in Joliet. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Albany and 102 in Joliet. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,098 in Albany and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,533 and $92,632 respectively. Joliet residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,006/month to housing in Albany vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Albany, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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