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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
San Marcos, CA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in San Marcos?
- Lake Forest is 6.5% more expensive than San Marcos.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or San Marcos?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 15.4% more expensive than San Marcos housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in San Marcos or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 4.9% more in Lake Forest.
 San Marcos, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall154.9164.9100
 Food & Groceries109.4103.6100
 Health89.093.4100
 Housing260.0300.0100
 Median Home Cost$813,500$937,500$338,100
 Utilities10,400.0%10,160.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation122.9111.6100
 Miscellaneous153.9155.9100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for San Marcos    5 Reviews

Just an amazing place to live. I have lived in 7 states and almost countless cities. Sam Marcos is one of the best. This is literally the longest place I have lived  More

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Over 14 years ago

Is this area to expensive for the average income retired  More

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Over 17 years ago

Beautiful Mediterranean climate with bright sunshine and ocean breazes. City is just 15 minutes away from the  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    15 Reviews

As a retired senior who has lived in Lake Forest (formerly El Toro) since 1977 I think LF is a great place if you can afford it. When we moved here in June '77 homes  More

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I’ve lived here for 2 years. Ok, it’s more like a 4 but there are so many idiots downplaying what it’s like here and giving Lake Forest ones and twos. There are a lot of  More

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Over 5 years ago

I've lived here for 5 and a half years and it's the worst. There's no way to describe the inherent awful nature of Lake Forest without sounding like I'm exaggerating.  More

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Start Your Review of Lake Forest

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ZIPS IN SAN MARCOS, CALIFORNIA
92069 92078
ZIPS IN LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA
92630 92610 92676

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