Median rent is 10% lower in Joliet ($1,237/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Joliet, where the median home runs $248,600 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Joliet ($88,026 vs $75,134 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Joliet, IL
How much would you need to earn in Joliet, IL to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Joliet
Illinois
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Joliet at $1,237/mo compared to $1,380/mo in Chicago (10% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Chicago: the median home is $315,200 versus $248,600 in Joliet — 21% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 4.95% in Illinois, so Joliet is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.25% in Illinois; Joliet has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Joliet
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Joliet has cleaner air on average: 16.0 AQI (Good) compared to 21.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Joliet if you prioritize higher median household income ($88,026/yr).
Is Chicago cheaper than Joliet?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Joliet?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,237/mo in Joliet, IL. Joliet, IL has the lower rent by about 10%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Joliet?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $88,026 in Joliet, IL. Joliet, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Joliet, IL has better air quality on average: 16.0 AQI versus 21.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Joliet?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Illinois's is 4.95%. Joliet, IL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Joliet to match my Chicago income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology