City Comparison

Concord vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

California
147
Expensive
$680,000
Median Home
$2,350/mo
Median Rent
$109,000
Median Income

Joliet

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

The Verdict

54.7%

Joliet is 54.7% less expensive than Concord overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $48,469 in Joliet to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
210
Concord
85
Joliet
Groceries
112
Concord
101
Joliet
Utilities
147
Concord
94
Joliet
Transportation
137
Concord
108
Joliet
Healthcare
121
Concord
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $48,469 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $116,053 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 210 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $680,000 vs $275,000. The $405,000 difference in home prices means roughly $26,328 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $1,025.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 112 in Concord and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $532/month in Concord vs $480/month in Joliet. Joliet offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 147 in Concord and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $588 in Concord 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 121 in Concord and 102 in Joliet. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $109,000 in Concord and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,150 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 $2,543/month to housing in Concord vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Concord, median rent of $2,350/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 125 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Joliet is 54.7% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $48,469 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 210 with median homes at $680,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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