Joliet vs New Orleans
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Joliet
New Orleans
The Verdict
Joliet is 2.1% less expensive than New Orleans overall. A household earning $75,000 in Joliet would need approximately $76,579 in New Orleans 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 Joliet has the same purchasing power as $76,579 in New Orleans.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Orleans equals $73,454 in Joliet.
Living in Joliet vs New Orleans
Housing Costs
Joliet's housing index of 85 is lower New Orleans's 95, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $245,000. The $30,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,325/mo in Joliet compared to $1,200/mo in New Orleans, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Joliet and 99 in New Orleans. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Joliet vs $470/month in New Orleans. 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 91 in New Orleans. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Joliet vs $364 in New Orleans. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Joliet and 94 in New Orleans. 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 $43,258 in New Orleans. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $92,632 and $44,596 respectively. Joliet residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,053/month to housing in Joliet vs $1,009/month in New Orleans. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo fits within this budget. In New Orleans, median rent of $1,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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