What is the cost of living in Lake Forest, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lake Forest has an overall cost of living index of 182, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Lake Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Lake Forest ranks as #475 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Lake Forest ranks as the #159 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Lake Forest, check out:
Lake Forest Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lake Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lake Forest is 112.
The Groceries index in Lake Forest is 120.
The Health index in Lake Forest is 328.
The Housing index in Lake Forest is 119.
The Transportation index in Lake Forest is 118.
The Utilities index in Lake Forest is 118.
| Living Expense | Lake Forest | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 182 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 112 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 120 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 328 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 118 | 121 | 100 |
Lake Forest Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Lake Forest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lake Forest, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lake Forest is $1,208,686.
The Median Rent in Lake Forest is $2,672.
The Median Income in Lake Forest is $135,175.
The Home Value To Income in Lake Forest is 8.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lake Forest is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Lake Forest | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,208,686 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,672 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $135,175 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.9x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Lake Forest, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Lake Forest Services costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Forest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.04 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.11 | $18 |
| Haircut | $27.27 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lake Forest Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Forest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.89 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $3.49 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.92 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.92 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $15.31 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.26 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lake Forest Health costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Forest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.92 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $95.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $117.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lake Forest Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Forest | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.75 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.38 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lake Forest Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Lake Forest | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $378.97 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $180.31 | $192.25 |
Lake Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lake Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lake Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Irvine, CA has a cost of living index of 209, 1.1x Lake Forest.
Orange, CA has a cost of living index of 176, 1.0x Lake Forest.
Mission Viejo, CA has a cost of living index of 190, 1.0x Lake Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lake Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | 311,690 | 209 | 1.1x |
| Orange, CA | 138,266 | 176 | 1.0x |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 92,151 | 190 | 1.0x |
| Yorba Linda, CA | 67,170 | 203 | 1.1x |
| Laguna Niguel, CA | 64,139 | 204 | 1.1x |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 56,258 | 188 | 1.0x |
| Placentia, CA | 52,826 | 173 | 1.0x |
| Aliso Viejo, CA | 51,113 | 175 | 1.0x |
| Rancho Santa Margarita, CA | 46,990 | 179 | 1.0x |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 30,740 | 190 | 1.0x |
