What is the cost of living in Fort Lee, NJ?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Lee has an overall cost of living index of 135, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Jersey, Fort Lee has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than New Jersey's index of 125.
The standard of living in Fort Lee ranks as #146 most affordable out of the 262 places we measured in New Jersey. By definition, that implies Fort Lee ranks as the #116 most expensive place in the Garden State.
For more reading on life in Fort Lee, check out:
Fort Lee Cost Of Living Vs. New Jersey
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Lee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Lee is 105.
The Groceries index in Fort Lee is 113.
The Health index in Fort Lee is 194.
The Housing index in Fort Lee is 115.
The Transportation index in Fort Lee is 109.
The Utilities index in Fort Lee is 109.
| Living Expense | Fort Lee | New Jersey | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 135 | 125 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 113 | 100 |
| Health | 194 | 155 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 116 | 100 |
| Transportation | 109 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 113 | 100 |
Fort Lee Cost Of Living Compared To New Jersey Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Jersey, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fort Lee Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Lee, NJ Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Jersey, 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 Fort Lee is $588,321.
The Median Rent in Fort Lee is $2,270.
The Median Income in Fort Lee is $107,274.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Lee is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Lee is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Fort Lee | New Jersey | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $588,321 | $569,411 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,270 | $1,720 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,274 | $103,556 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 5.5x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Fort Lee, NJ Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Lee Services costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Fort Lee | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.69 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.68 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.4 | $18 |
| Haircut | $34.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $64.07 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Lee Groceries costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Fort Lee | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.87 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.97 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.21 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.57 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.87 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.96 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Lee Health costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Fort Lee | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $128.97 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $162.24 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.64 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Lee Transportation costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Fort Lee | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.55 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.43 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Lee Utilities costs vs. New Jersey
| Item | Fort Lee | New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.27 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $200.67 | $192.25 |
Fort Lee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Lee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Lee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Englewood, NJ has a cost of living index of 136, 1.0x Fort Lee.
Cliffside Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 145, 1.1x Fort Lee.
Palisades Park, NJ has a cost of living index of 160, 1.2x Fort Lee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Englewood, NJ | 29,638 | 136 | 1.0x |
| Cliffside Park, NJ | 25,781 | 145 | 1.1x |
| Palisades Park, NJ | 20,290 | 160 | 1.2x |
| Woodmere, NY | 18,061 | 186 | 1.4x |
| Port Washington, NY | 18,004 | 196 | 1.5x |
| Fairview, NJ | 15,099 | 151 | 1.1x |
| Edgewater, NJ | 14,759 | 174 | 1.3x |
| North New Hyde Park, NY | 14,159 | 169 | 1.3x |
| Ridgefield Park, NJ | 13,235 | 131 | 1.0x |
| Ridgefield, NJ | 11,498 | 149 | 1.1x |
