Joliet vs Olympia
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Joliet
Olympia
The Verdict
Joliet is 15.2% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Joliet would need approximately $88,421 in Olympia 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 $88,421 in Olympia.
Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $63,616 in Joliet.
Living in Joliet vs Olympia
Housing Costs
Joliet's housing index of 85 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $275,000 vs $495,000. The $220,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,304 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,325/mo in Joliet compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Joliet and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Joliet vs $499/month in Olympia. 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 Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Joliet vs $364 in Olympia. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Joliet and 124 in Olympia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $88,000 in Joliet and $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $92,632 and $72,589 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 $1,897/month in Olympia. In Joliet, median rent of $1,325/mo fits within this budget. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 46 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases