Aurora, IL vs Joliet, IL

Joliet is moderately more affordable than Aurora, with a 10.7% lower cost of living index. Aurora scores 104 compared to 94 for Joliet, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Aurora can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Aurora is $1,535/month compared to $1,237/month in Joliet — a 24% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Joliet is more affordable at $248,600 median vs $260,400.

Median household income in Aurora is $90,109 compared to $88,026 in Joliet (+2.4%). Aurora does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Aurora spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Joliet.