Bellevue vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bellevue
Joliet
The Verdict
Joliet is 66.3% less expensive than Bellevue overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bellevue would need approximately $45,095 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 Bellevue has the same purchasing power as $45,095 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $124,737 in Bellevue.
Living in Bellevue vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Bellevue's housing index of 249 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $1.3M vs $275,000. The $1.0M difference in home prices means roughly $66,696 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,525/mo in Bellevue compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $1,200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 111 in Bellevue and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $527/month in Bellevue vs $480/month in Joliet. Joliet offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Bellevue and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Bellevue vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 120 in Bellevue and 102 in Joliet. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $169,200 in Bellevue and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $107,089 and $92,632 respectively. Bellevue residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,948/month to housing in Bellevue vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Bellevue, median rent of $2,525/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 Housing, where the gap is 164 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases