2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Highlands Ranch, CO vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in Highlands Ranch?
- Lake Forest is 14.8% more expensive than Highlands Ranch.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Highlands Ranch?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 31.9% more expensive than Highlands Ranch housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Highlands Ranch or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 12.4% more in Lake Forest.
 Highlands Ranch, COLake Forest, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock164.9100
 Food & Groceries103.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.4100
 Housing227.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.6100
 Miscellaneous156.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Highlands Ranch    20 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

I was born and raised in Highlands Ranch and I know what you’re thinking. “This is a rich girl.” I am not. My parents moved here before it became rich and boujie and the  More

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Worked in the DTC and HR was an easy commute. The people are yuppy- scum-snobs, who do not thank you for holding the door open for their 3+ children, noses held high in  More

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Over 11 years ago

When we moved here from Denver, about 2.5 yrs ago, I did note the affluence, lack of diversity (compared to Denver) and seeming Stepford Wives phenomenon. It is all  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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