2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, IL vs Grand Rapids, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Grand Rapids or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Grand Rapids is 2.6% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Grand Rapids or Lake Forest?
- Grand Rapids housing costs are 72.6% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Grand Rapids.
- Health related expenses are 15.7% less in Grand Rapids.
 Lake Forest, ILGrand Rapids, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock94.5100
 Food & Groceries108.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock81.2100
 Housing285.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$247,900$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock95.1100
 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 Grand Rapids    62 Reviews

I've lived in Grand Rapids about 85% of my life and can confidently say it is a great place to live for anyone. I know countless people who dogged the city, moved  More

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Grand Rapids proper - the small city - is fairly OK. Nothing special stands out about it when judged against the nicer areas of the US, but it has some decent dining and  More

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Wow. “bland Rapids and everyone is Smug, uptight and part of the Christian Reformed Church. “ Someone is accurately describing Grand Rapids in 1985. Much has changed  More

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