Boise vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boise
Joliet
The Verdict
Joliet is 11.6% less expensive than Boise overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boise would need approximately $67,217 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 Boise has the same purchasing power as $67,217 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $83,684 in Boise.
Living in Boise vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Boise's housing index of 118 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $275,000. The $145,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Boise compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Boise and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Boise 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 89 in Boise and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Boise vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Boise 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 $60,818 in Boise and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,375 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 $1,419/month to housing in Boise vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Boise, median rent of $1,400/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 33 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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