City Comparison

Greensboro vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Greensboro

North Carolina
84
Very Affordable
$230,000
Median Home
$1,050/mo
Median Rent
$49,500
Median Income

Joliet

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

The Verdict

11.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.6%, with Greensboro being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Greensboro has equivalent purchasing power to $84,821 in Joliet.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Greensboro
85
Joliet
Groceries
96
Greensboro
101
Joliet
Utilities
98
Greensboro
94
Joliet
Transportation
92
Greensboro
108
Joliet
Healthcare
101
Greensboro
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Greensboro has the same purchasing power as $84,821 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $66,316 in Greensboro.

Living in Greensboro vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Greensboro's housing index of 62 is lower Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $230,000 vs $275,000. The $45,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,928 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,050/mo in Greensboro compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Greensboro and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Greensboro 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 Greensboro and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Greensboro vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 101 in Greensboro 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 $49,500 in Greensboro and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,929 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 $1,155/month to housing in Greensboro vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Greensboro, median rent of $1,050/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 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Greensboro is 11.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Greensboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,821 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Greensboro's housing index is 62 with median homes at $230,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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