Green Bay vs Joliet
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Green Bay
Joliet
The Verdict
Living in Green Bay costs 9.5% less than Joliet. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Green Bay, you would need $82,849 in Joliet.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Green Bay has the same purchasing power as $82,849 in Joliet.
Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $67,895 in Green Bay.
Living in Green Bay vs Joliet
Housing Costs
Green Bay's housing index of 72 is lower Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $235,000 vs $275,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Green Bay compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Green Bay and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Green Bay 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 84 in Green Bay and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $336 in Green Bay vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Green Bay 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 $55,200 in Green Bay and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,186 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 $1,288/month to housing in Green Bay vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/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 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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