City Comparison

Greenville vs Joliet

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Greenville

South Carolina
95
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$48,912
Median Income

Joliet

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

The Verdict

0.0%

Living in Greenville costs 0.0% less than Joliet. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Greenville, you would need $75,000 in Joliet.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
85
Greenville
85
Joliet
Groceries
98
Greenville
101
Joliet
Utilities
96
Greenville
94
Joliet
Transportation
97
Greenville
108
Joliet
Healthcare
103
Greenville
102
Joliet

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Greenville has the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Joliet.

Conversely, $75,000 in Joliet equals $75,000 in Greenville.

Living in Greenville vs Joliet

Housing Costs

Greenville's housing index of 85 is equal to Joliet's 85, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $275,000. The $25,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,620 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Greenville compared to $1,325/mo in Joliet, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Greenville and 101 in Joliet. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Greenville 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 96 in Greenville and 94 in Joliet. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Greenville vs $376 in Joliet. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Greenville 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 $48,912 in Greenville and $88,000 in Joliet. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,486 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 $1,141/month to housing in Greenville vs $2,053/month in Joliet. In Greenville, median rent of $1,200/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 Transportation, where the gap is 11 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Greenville is 0.0% more affordable overall with an index of 95 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Greenville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $75,000 in Joliet, based on the cost of living difference.
Greenville's housing index is 85 with median homes at $250,000, while Joliet's is 85 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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