2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Detroit, MI vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in Detroit?
- Lake Forest is 79.6% more expensive than Detroit.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Detroit?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 1,176.6% more expensive than Detroit housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Detroit or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 14.2% more in Lake Forest.
 Detroit, MILake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries89.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing23.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Utilities90  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.6100
 Miscellaneous114.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Detroit    116 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

Have lived in the area for over a year (suburb of Grosse Pointe), but I work in downtown Detroit. I'm amazed at how cool this city is. So much to do and see, tat we  More

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Spent some time in the city but lived in multiple suburban areas in the metro area. I lived in Farmington Hills, Novi, Birmingham, and Rochester. Really, all were great.  More

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Cold, unfriendly, envious people within the city limits. The unfriendliness can turn into aggression and sometimes even bullying. Crabs in a barrel reside here and the  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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