2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, IL vs Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Carmel-by-the-Sea or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea is 56.6% more expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Carmel-by-the-Sea or Lake Forest?
- Carmel-by-the-Sea housing costs are 128.3% more expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- Health related expenses are 49.2% more in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
 Lake Forest, ILCarmel-by-the-Sea, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock151.9100
 Food & Groceries108.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock143.7100
 Housing285.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,916,200$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock103.7100
 Miscellaneous141.0  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    4 Reviews

We relocated cross county to Lake Forest about a year ago due to a job change. We looked at nearby communities, within proximity of the work commute (the office is in  More

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Be prepared for a so called upscale town with entitled, overpaid, snooty people from teenagers who sneer at you to adults who look you up and down, who make demands on a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Long cold winters, short cold springs, hot humid summers, nice  More

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Reviews for Carmel-By-The-Sea    3 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Climate, cost &  More

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carmel has about 60 vacation homes and a dense cottage-y downtown. basically it is a tourist trap cental business district and a bunch of vacation rental homes. the  More

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Over 17 years ago

Liberals have run me out of town. The political is so overwhelming I am looking to relocate. However, if you are an aging hippie with a great deal of money you will be  More

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