2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, IL vs Milwaukee, WI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Milwaukee or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Milwaukee is 9.3% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Milwaukee or Lake Forest?
- Milwaukee housing costs are 80.5% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Milwaukee.
- Health related expenses are 3.2% less in Milwaukee.
 Lake Forest, ILMilwaukee, WIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.0100
 Food & Groceries108.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock93.2100
 Housing285.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$180,800$338,100
 Utilities94  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock102.1100
 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 Milwaukee    110 Reviews

I have lived in Milwaukee for about 5 years. I really like the area, but I also plan on moving away soon. It is a unique city that has its charm though. Here is my  More

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Over 3 years ago

I've gone to Milwaukee many times for vacation, and it is a beautiful city with great lakeside views and beaches, stunning river walks, and of course the delicous cheese  More

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Over 4 years ago

Pretty decent city with some things to offer although crime is on the rise and segregation is out of control by race and income  More

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