2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Atascadero, 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 Atascadero?
- Lake Forest is 12.9% more expensive than Atascadero.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Atascadero?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 37.0% more expensive than Atascadero housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Atascadero or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 14.2% less in Lake Forest.
 Atascadero, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries106.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing218.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.6100
 Miscellaneous143.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Atascadero    8 Reviews

Moved up here 20 years ago from coastal Southern California and we love it. Home prices are high, and wages do not keep pace, but that’s a problem for all of California.  More

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Over 9 years ago

Have lived on the Central Coast of California for many years, and the area is wonderful with a moderate Med climate and laid back lifestyle. Unfortunately as I near  More

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We moved to Atascadero in 2006 and at that time it was nice, low crime rate. Lots of places to eat and go out. BUT today 2015 is a lot different. The homeless have  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    16 Reviews

I've lived in Lake Forest for over a decade, before that elsewhere in OC and also up in LA. Lake Forest isn't perfect but it's really improved over the past decade,  More

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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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