2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, CA vs Scottsdale, AZ

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Scottsdale or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Scottsdale is 31.5% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Scottsdale or Lake Forest?
- Scottsdale housing costs are 23.0% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Scottsdale.
- Health related expenses are 1.0% less in Scottsdale.
 Lake Forest, CAScottsdale, AZUnited States
 Overall  Unlock113.0100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock92.5100
 Housing300.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$721,200$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock109.2100
 Miscellaneous155.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Lake Forest

Reviews for Scottsdale    84 Reviews

It's been a long time since I visited Scottsdale after visiting a few times a decade ago. It used to be more of an area that deserved it's punchlines for being stuck up  More

   |    Reply

Over 1 years ago

My son went to ASU in '99 which is how we ended up here from Northern Illinois. Over the years we came out for vacations and bought a second home until we finally made  More

   |    Reply

I lived in San Jose for 30 years...in the late '50s. I walked thru cherry orchards to school. After college classes, I drove 20 minutes to the beach. San Francisco was  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Scottsdale


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.