2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, CA vs Chapel Hill, NC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Chapel Hill or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Chapel Hill is 34.6% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Chapel Hill or Lake Forest?
- Chapel Hill housing costs are 47.5% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Chapel Hill.
- Health related expenses are 9.7% more in Chapel Hill.
 Lake Forest, CAChapel Hill, NCUnited States
 Overall  Unlock107.8100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock102.5100
 Housing300.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$550,100$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock82.6100
 Miscellaneous155.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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Reviews for Chapel Hill    16 Reviews

Between my wife and I, we've lived in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and it's Chapel Hill we prefer. Franklin Street is always lively with an eclectic mix of  More

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I am not sure if Bert has actually been to the Triangle, but for starters, Durham, as Chapel Hill residents know and envy, is and has been for 5 yrs now a vibrant  More

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someone told me they live in the hills/mountains right near chapel hill, and the summers are much cooler there, while the town itself is easily accessible. is this  More

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