Joliet vs Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Joliet
Naperville
The Verdict
Living in Joliet costs 15.2% less than Naperville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Joliet, you would need $88,421 in Naperville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Joliet has the same purchasing power as $88,421 in Naperville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $63,616 in Joliet.
Living in Joliet vs Naperville
Housing Costs
Joliet's housing index of 85 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $430,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,325/mo in Joliet compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $475.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Joliet and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Joliet vs $494/month in Naperville. 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 94 in Joliet and 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Joliet vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Joliet and 101 in Naperville. 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 $88,000 in Joliet and $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $92,632 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,053/month to housing in Joliet vs $2,759/month in Naperville. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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