2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Harlingen, TX vs Big Bear Lake, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Big Bear Lake or is it cheaper to live in Harlingen?
- Big Bear Lake is 58.3% more expensive than Harlingen.

Which city has more affordable housing, Big Bear Lake or Harlingen?
- Big Bear Lake housing costs are 241.6% more expensive than Harlingen housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Harlingen or is Health Care more affordable in Big Bear Lake.
- Health related expenses are 11.9% less in Big Bear Lake.
 Harlingen, TXBig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock118.6100
 Food & Groceries90.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.1100
 Housing44.5  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$586,600$338,100
 Utilities89  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock114.7100
 Miscellaneous71.0  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Harlingen    6 Reviews

Harlingen is a city that offers retirees the most bang for the buck! It is near enough to McAllen and Brownsville and all they offer. You get a wide variety of shopping  More

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This area of the state of Texas is bland to most people from the East and northeast. However the community has everything you need at a price you can afford. Dining out  More

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Over 8 years ago

Here is what you will not get in Harlingen: easy access to great museums and Michelin starred restaurants. However, there are things that counter it. 1) It is  More

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Reviews for Big Bear Lake    5 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

We moved to Big Bear Lake a couple of years ago from Los Angeles because of my husband's job. It is a somewhat pretty city, the lake is mirky and surrounded by trash,  More

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Over 15 years ago

Big Bear Lake, a beautiful setting in a remote mountain community in Southern California. A draw to tourists from the Los Angeles area for skiing, boating, and mountain  More

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In the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California, this little town has almost everything you would want to see and do. In the spring and summer the lake is filled  More

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