Evanston, IL vs Joliet, IL

The cost of living difference between Evanston, IL and Joliet, IL is dramatic. Joliet is 34.5% cheaper than Evanston, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Evanston has a cost index of 126 while Joliet sits at 94, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Evanston is $1,698/month compared to $1,237/month in Joliet — a 37% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Joliet is more affordable at $248,600 median vs $472,300.

Median household income in Evanston is $95,766 compared to $88,026 in Joliet (+8.8%). Evanston 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 Evanston spend roughly 21.3% of their income on rent, more than the 16.9% in Joliet.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.8°F vs 49.4°F). Joliet receives more rainfall at 33.8" per year compared to 32.3" in Evanston.