Pontiac, IL vs St. Joseph, IL

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Pontiac is 18% cheaper than St. Joseph. With a cost index of 67 vs 82, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Pontiac to St. Joseph should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Pontiac is $818/month compared to $969/month in St. Joseph — a 16% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Pontiac is more affordable at $110,200 median vs $257,400.

Median household income in Pontiac is $59,579 compared to $114,594 in St. Joseph (-48%). 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 Pontiac spend roughly 16.5% of their income on rent, more than the 10.1% in St. Joseph.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.3°F vs 52.5°F). Pontiac receives more rainfall at 40.4" per year compared to 37" in St. Joseph.