Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Lake Forest, CA and New York, NY

🙂 Solo nomad: Lake Forest, CA is 28.1% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 34.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Lake Forest, CA is 25.3% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 37.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.57 $24.57

$29.68 $29.68

-17.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$100 $100

$144 $144

-30.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 $10.11

$12.43 $12.43

-18.66%

Cappuccino

$5.91 $5.91

$5.84 $5.84

1.20%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$3.26 $3.26

-16.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.58 $2.58

-13.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.48 $8.48

$8.24 $8.24

2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.84 $8.84

$11.86 $11.86

-25.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 $1.24

$1.56 $1.56

-20.51%

White Bread (500g)

$4.27 $4.27

$5.23 $5.23

-18.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$8.11 $8.11

-43.16%

Eggs

$4.47 $4.47

$7.25 $7.25

-38.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$17.08 $17.08

-26.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.03 $17.03

$16.24 $16.24

4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.22 $19.22

$20.02 $20.02

-4.00%

Apples (1kg)

$6.56 $6.56

$7.49 $7.49

-12.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.9 $1.9

$2.55 $2.55

-25.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 $4.14

$5.82 $5.82

-28.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$6.52 $6.52

-16.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.72 $3.72

-13.71%

Onion (1kg)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.9 $3.9

-21.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 $1.91

$3.07 $3.07

-37.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.57 $2.57

-17.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.75 $9.75

$19.21 $19.21

-49.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.65 $19.65

$17.79 $17.79

10.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$3.01 $3.01

-41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.9 $3.9

$3.72 $3.72

4.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.92 $2.92

17.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$134 $134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 $3.04

$5.13 $5.13

-40.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.15 $2.15

24.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.53 $29.53

$41.57 $41.57

-28.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$0.95 $0.95

35.79%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$35K $35K

-18.72%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$27.7K $27.7K

-4.30%

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

$202 $202

$179 $179

13.38%

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

$54.8 $54.8

$60 $60

-8.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.9 $71.9

$63.8 $63.8

12.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51 $51

$141 $141

-63.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.9 $63.9

Cinema Ticket

$17.17 $17.17

$19.9 $19.9

-13.72%

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

$1,823 $1,823

$3,206 $3,206

-43.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$56.5K $56.5K

-57.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$65.7 $65.7

-5.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.13 $41.13

$48.75 $48.75

-15.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$111 $111

-7.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$172 $172

-12.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,433 $1,433

$4,165 $4,165

-65.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$2,653 $2,653

-43.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,096 $3,096

$8,412 $8,412

-63.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,805 $2,805

$5,277 $5,277

-46.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,100 $8,100

$15.6K $15.6K

-48.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,128 $7,128

$11.2K $11.2K

-36.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,899 $6,899

$5,616 $5,616

22.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.44

0.78%

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

Last update for Lake Forest, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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