Central City, IL vs Joy, IL

Central City, IL and Joy, IL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.6% difference in their overall index. Central City scores 64 while Joy scores 65 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Central City is $888/month compared to $885/month in Joy — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Joy has cheaper rent, Central City actually has lower median home values ($43,900 vs $82,300).

Median household income in Central City is $47,750 compared to $64,583 in Joy (-26.1%). While Joy is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Central City spend roughly 22.3% of their income on rent, more than the 16.4% in Joy.