2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Houghton Lake, MI 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 Houghton Lake?
- Big Bear Lake is 55.4% more expensive than Houghton Lake.

Which city has more affordable housing, Big Bear Lake or Houghton Lake?
- Big Bear Lake housing costs are 223.4% more expensive than Houghton Lake housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Houghton Lake or is Health Care more affordable in Big Bear Lake.
- Health related expenses are 3.9% more in Big Bear Lake.
 Houghton Lake, MIBig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock118.6100
 Food & Groceries90.7  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock88.1100
 Housing47.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$586,600$338,100
 Utilities100  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock114.7100
 Miscellaneous81.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Houghton Lake    3 Reviews

This is a rural resort area. You must be able to embrace the rural lifestyle. There's no real shopping opportunities other than Walmart, Kmart, Peebles, Dunhams, Tractor  More

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Over 17 years ago

The quality of life here for most depends on how you look at it. If your looking for a medium to high paying job there realy are none, and there's hardly any jobs that  More

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The climate here is...well..cold... seems like most of the time and one does get cabin fever when March rolls around, if not sooner. Can't wait for summer! If you love  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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