2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Etna, 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 Etna?
- Lake Forest is 79.8% more expensive than Etna.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Etna?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 281.2% more expensive than Etna housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Etna or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 21.7% less in Lake Forest.
 Etna, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries98.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing78.7  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Utilities93  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.6100
 Miscellaneous93.8  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Etna    2 Reviews

Over 19 years ago

Etna is a precious and productive little town in Scott valley that may begin to suffer from attack of the eco infiltration. Highly dependent on water for hay production  More

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I moved to Etna in March 2005 from Riverside County in So. Calif. I quickly named the town the friendliest town in the west. Everyone waves, even if they have never  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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