Chester, IL vs Lake Forest, IL

The cost of living difference between Chester, IL and Lake Forest, IL is dramatic. Chester is 64.6% cheaper than Lake Forest, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chester has a cost index of 62 while Lake Forest sits at 175, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Chester is $642/month compared to $2,120/month in Lake Forest — a 70% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Chester is more affordable at $107,800 median vs $909,800.

Median household income in Chester is $74,673 compared to $228,120 in Lake Forest (-67.3%). While Lake Forest is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Chester spend roughly 10.3% of their income on rent, less than the 11.2% in Lake Forest.