2026 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, CA vs Hemet, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Hemet or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Hemet is 20.4% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Hemet or Lake Forest?
- Hemet housing costs are 59.1% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Hemet.
- Health related expenses are 6.5% less in Hemet.
 Lake Forest, CAHemet, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock131.2100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock87.3100
 Housing300.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$396,200$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock111.9100
 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 Hemet    18 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

My Aunt lived here for 19 years and we have lived here over 2 years. We love it here and I speak to many long time residents who also love it. The weather is great and  More

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Over 3 years ago

Great place for retirees and great prices to buy a home. Everything that you want is within 5 minutes and you can have horses in the city! It seems like they are  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have lived in this ****hole for most of my 36 years. Not only is the town crap but the corruption in the town is off the charts. The local police and sheriff rather  More

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