City Comparison

Fishers vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Joliet

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

The Verdict

11.6%

Living in Joliet costs 11.6% less than Fishers. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fishers, you would need $67,217 in Joliet.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Fishers
85
Joliet
Groceries
99
Fishers
101
Joliet
Utilities
100
Fishers
94
Joliet
Transportation
102
Fishers
108
Joliet
Healthcare
99
Fishers
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $67,217 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $83,684 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $275,000. The $116,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers 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 100 in Fishers and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers 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 $130,200 in Fishers and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $92,632 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/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 35 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Joliet is 11.6% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,217 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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