Joliet, IL vs Westland, MI: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Westland, MI has a modeled overall cost index 16.3% lower than Joliet, IL.

Joliet, IL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,590 / month
Westland, MI · modeled 2BR rent: $1,420 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Joliet, IL and Westland, MI using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Joliet, IL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,307/month in Westland, MI

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $134,321 in Westland, MI

Regional cost estimates: Joliet, IL uses Chicago, IL. Westland, MI uses Detroit, MI. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 16.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,307

Savings

Annual Impact

$15.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Joliet, IL

Population:150K

Cost Index:

100.5

100 = national average

Typical Home:$205K

Westland, MI

Population:83K

Cost Index:

84.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$215K

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Joliet, IL

The Prairie State

150K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Illinois, this city has a population of 150K residents.

Westland, MI

The Great Lakes State

83K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Michigan, this city has a population of 83K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Joliet, IL vs Westland, MI

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Joliet, IL	Westland, MI	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,458/mo	$1,285/mo	↓ $1,174less	47.7%
Groceries	$951/mo	$889/mo	↓ $61.80less	6.5%
Transportation	$1,497/mo	$1,438/mo	↓ $58.65less	3.9%
All Utilities	$479/mo	$522/mo	↑ $42.40more	8.8%
Other	$1,566/mo	$1,532/mo	↓ $33.33less	2.1%
Healthcare	$549/mo	$528/mo	↓ $21.46less	3.9%

Housing

↓ 47.7%

Joliet, IL

$2,458

Westland, MI

$1,285

Difference

$1,174

less

Groceries

↓ 6.5%

Joliet, IL

$951

Westland, MI

$889

Difference

$61.80

less

Transportation

↓ 3.9%

Joliet, IL

$1,497

Westland, MI

$1,438

Difference

$58.65

less

All Utilities

↑ 8.8%

Joliet, IL

$479

Westland, MI

$522

Difference

$42.40

Other

↓ 2.1%

Joliet, IL

$1,566

Westland, MI

$1,532

Difference

$33.33

less

Healthcare

↓ 3.9%

Joliet, IL

$549

Westland, MI

$528

Difference

$21.46

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,320

To$1,020

↓ $300

1 Bed

From$1,410

To$1,130

↓ $280

2 Bed

From$1,590

To$1,420

↓ $170

3 Bed

From$2,050

To$1,730

↓ $320

Joliet, ILZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,610/mo

Westland, MIZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,130–$1,130/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Joliet, IL

$6,193

Monthly in Westland, MI

$1,307

Difference

Home Values

Joliet

Westland

$205K

Median Value

$215K

↓ -0.9%

YoY Change

↑ +3.2%

↑ +36.7%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.4%

$198K - $339K

Price Range

$215K

Homes in Westland are 5% more expensive than Joliet

Calculate payment - Joliet Calculate payment - Westland

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.1K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$87.50

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Joliet, IL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Illinois State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,797/month

$105.6K

Westland, MI

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Michigan State Tax

Effective: 4.3%

$6.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 28.9%

$43.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,884/month

$106.6K

Additional Tax Information

Joliet, IL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%

Property Tax:2.2%

Westland, MI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%

Property Tax:1.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Joliet

Westland

54 Moderate

Air Quality

55 Moderate

35.8%

Good Air Days

32.8%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

99 High

🌊🌡🫨

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

▲+3.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.1°F

18 days

Heat Days >95°F

10 days

Before moving from Joliet, IL to Westland, MI

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Westland, MI for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Joliet, IL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Joliet to Westland moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Westland, MI by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Joliet, IL vs Westland, MI

How do the cost estimates for Joliet, IL and Westland, MI compare?

Westland, MI has a modeled overall cost index 16.3% lower than Joliet, IL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Joliet, IL, the model estimates $134,321 in Westland, MI. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Joliet, IL and Westland, MI?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,590/month in Joliet, IL and $1,420/month in Westland, MI. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Illinois and Michigan on TaxTakeHome.com