2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Chicago, IL vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in Chicago?
- Lake Forest is 56.0% more expensive than Chicago.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Chicago?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 200.6% more expensive than Chicago housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Chicago or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 6.1% more in Lake Forest.
 Chicago, ILLake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries97.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing99.8  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.6100
 Miscellaneous139.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Chicago    270 Reviews

I've lived in Chicago city and later moved to suburbs when family size increased. Absolutely love this city. This is the cleanest and most beautiful among the major  More

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Chicago is probably the best value in a major city that you can find and my personal favorite city. It will become increasingly important as climate change makes the  More

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I've live on north side and south side, UIC medical center. Don't move here go to the north side. No good amenities, if you get bored with one there is no other choices.  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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