Phoenix, IL vs St. Joseph, IL

Phoenix is moderately more affordable than St. Joseph, with a 10.5% lower cost of living index. Phoenix scores 74 compared to 82 for St. Joseph, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Joseph can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Phoenix is $1,010/month compared to $969/month in St. Joseph — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while St. Joseph has cheaper rent, Phoenix actually has lower median home values ($86,300 vs $257,400).

Median household income in Phoenix is $25,703 compared to $114,594 in St. Joseph (-77.6%). While St. Joseph is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Phoenix spend roughly 47.2% of their income on rent, more than the 10.1% in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 52.5°F). St. Joseph receives more rainfall at 37" per year compared to 34.4" in Phoenix.