Glendale vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Glendale
Joliet
The Verdict
Joliet is 18.9% less expensive than Glendale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Glendale would need approximately $63,053 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 Glendale has the same purchasing power as $63,053 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $89,211 in Glendale.
Living in Glendale vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Glendale's housing index of 119 is higher Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $405,000 vs $275,000. The $130,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Glendale compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Glendale and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Glendale 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 98 in Glendale and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Glendale vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in Glendale 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 $70,100 in Glendale and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,035 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 $1,636/month to housing in Glendale vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Glendale, 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 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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