2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Arlington, VA vs Lake Forest, IL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in Arlington?
- Lake Forest is 41.0% less expensive than Arlington.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Arlington?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 5.9% more expensive than Arlington housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Arlington or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 4.3% less in Lake Forest.
 Arlington, VALake Forest, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock97.0100
 Food & Groceries115.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.3100
 Housing269.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$898,600$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock93.7100
 Miscellaneous146.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Arlington    36 Reviews

Lived here 17 years, amazing  More

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Resident for 20 years. There is nothing hidden about Arlington. It is an affluent inner suburb of DC with a highly educated, mostly professional, population. The  More

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We've lived in Arlington for the past 7 years, and have enjoyed it but would prefer a less expensive, more open area. We live in a townhouse in Rosslyn, close to the  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    4 Reviews

We relocated cross county to Lake Forest about a year ago due to a job change. We looked at nearby communities, within proximity of the work commute (the office is in  More

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Be prepared for a so called upscale town with entitled, overpaid, snooty people from teenagers who sneer at you to adults who look you up and down, who make demands on a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Long cold winters, short cold springs, hot humid summers, nice  More

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