Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Lake Forest, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Colorado Springs, CO and Lake Forest, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,108 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $2,994 in Lake Forest, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,275 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $4,561 in Lake Forest, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,442 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $6,129 in Lake Forest, CA.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO is roughly 4% more expensive than in Lake Forest, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Colorado Springs, CO 133% above, Lake Forest, CA 124% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.73 $19.73

$25.10 $25.10

-21.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.9 $83.9

$101 $101

-16.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 $9.85

$9.80 $9.80

0.51%

Cappuccino

$6.22 $6.22

$5.70 $5.70

9.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.74 $2.74

18.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.27 $2.27

2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.24 $6.24

$8.33 $8.33

-25.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.99 $6.99

$8.59 $8.59

-18.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.25 $1.25

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.68 $3.68

$4.29 $4.29

-14.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$4.73 $4.73

-6.34%

Eggs

$5.54 $5.54

$4.48 $4.48

23.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.65 $15.65

$12.24 $12.24

27.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.24 $15.24

$16.78 $16.78

-9.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.33 $18.33

$19.73 $19.73

-7.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.39 $4.39

$6.46 $6.46

-32.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.90 $1.90

-16.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 $3.71

$4.31 $4.31

-13.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$5.57 $5.57

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$3.18 $3.18

-14.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.94 $2.94

-7.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.86 $1.86

21.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.14 $2.14

6.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 $10.16

$9.72 $9.72

4.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.35 $19.35

$14.89 $14.89

29.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.68 $1.68

31.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.96 $3.96

-3.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.34 $2.34

$3.43 $3.43

-31.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.0 $62.0

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.04 $3.04

-18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$2.81 $2.81

-49.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.96 $24.96

$29.13 $29.13

-14.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.28 $1.28

-32.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.3K $27.3K

$29.1K $29.1K

-6.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

$27.0K $27.0K

-3.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$194 $194

$199 $199

-2.68%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$54.4 $54.4

32.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 $101

$73.2 $73.2

37.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.6 $61.6

$49.78 $49.78

23.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.72 $29.72

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$17.80 $17.80

-15.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,477 $1,477

$1,781 $1,781

-17.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$23.9K $23.9K

0.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 $58.8

$61.2 $61.2

-3.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.24 $37.24

$40.10 $40.10

-7.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.4 $91.4

$103 $103

-10.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$153 $153

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,702 $1,702

$1,449 $1,449

17.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,628 $1,628

$1,475 $1,475

10.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,591 $2,591

$3,111 $3,111

-16.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 $2,272

$2,840 $2,840

-20.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,514 $2,514

$8,125 $8,125

-69.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,444 $2,444

$7,042 $7,042

-65.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,292 $4,292

$6,899 $6,899

-37.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.6

6.49

1.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colorado Springs, CO: July 13, 2026

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO and $1,449 in Lake Forest, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lake Forest, CA pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO vs $101 in Lake Forest, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $443 vs $455 per month, with Colorado Springs, CO cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Colorado Springs, CO vs Lake Forest, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Forest, CA is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Lake Forest, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,702 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,449 in Lake Forest, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,477 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,781 in Lake Forest, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Lake Forest, CA – a meal for two runs $101 versus $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Lake Forest, CA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Colorado Springs, CO and Lake Forest, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Lake Forest, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.