Bend vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bend
Joliet
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 38.9%, with Joliet being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Bend has equivalent purchasing power to $53,977 in Joliet.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bend has the same purchasing power as $53,977 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $104,211 in Bend.
Living in Bend vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Bend's housing index of 182 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $580,000 vs $275,000. The $305,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,824 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,900/mo in Bend compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $575.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 106 in Bend and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Bend 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 92 in Bend and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Bend vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Bend 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 $68,234 in Bend and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,692 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 $1,592/month to housing in Bend vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Bend, median rent of $1,900/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 Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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