City Comparison

Beaumont vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Joliet

Illinois
95
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,325/mo
Median Rent
$88,000
Median Income

The Verdict

17.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 17.9%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $91,346 in Joliet.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
85
Joliet
Groceries
96
Beaumont
101
Joliet
Utilities
102
Beaumont
94
Joliet
Transportation
93
Beaumont
108
Joliet
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $91,346 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $61,579 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $275,000. The $109,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont 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 102 in Beaumont and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont 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 $57,000 in Beaumont and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 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 $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 15 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 17.9% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,346 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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