Durham vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Joliet
The Verdict
Joliet is 6.3% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $70,545 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 Durham has the same purchasing power as $70,545 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $79,737 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $275,000. The $65,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,224 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham 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 93 in Durham and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham 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 $57,738 in Durham and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 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 $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/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 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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