Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Lee, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Fort Lee, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,719 in Austin, TX versus $3,166 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,117 in Austin, TX versus $5,152 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,515 in Austin, TX versus $7,139 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 14% less than in Fort Lee, NJ, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 103% above, Fort Lee, NJ 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 $19.99

$19.70 $19.70

1.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$101 $101

-24.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 $10.13

$12.74 $12.74

-20.49%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$5.31 $5.31

3.39%

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

$2.72 $2.72

$2.40 $2.40

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.28 $1.28

67.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.07 $7.07

-14.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.04 $8.04

$9.18 $9.18

-12.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.34 $1.34

-18.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.34 $3.34

$3.28 $3.28

1.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.29 $4.29

-20.28%

Eggs

$4.32 $4.32

$4.25 $4.25

1.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 $11.80

$21.43 $21.43

-44.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.68 $10.68

$11.73 $11.73

-8.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.50 $14.50

$17.28 $17.28

-16.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$4.89 $4.89

-2.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$1.57 $1.57

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.02 $4.02

12.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.04 $4.04

$4.08 $4.08

-0.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.87 $2.87

-3.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.81 $3.81

-26.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.48 $2.48

-17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.70 $2.70

-20.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.23 $9.23

$12.02 $12.02

-23.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$12.11 $12.11

22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.75 $1.75

30.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$6.10 $6.10

-42.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$3.77 $3.77

-59.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.08 $3.08

39.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$2.07 $2.07

-12.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.52 $35.52

$23.94 $23.94

48.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$0.93 $0.93

-17.20%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$29.8K $29.8K

-14.10%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.2K $25.2K

4.39%

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

$172 $172

$127 $127

35.75%

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

$60.3 $60.3

$45.18 $45.18

33.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$63.8 $63.8

5.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.8 $62.8

$125 $125

-49.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.73 $14.73

$15.15 $15.15

-2.77%

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

$1,398 $1,398

$2,018 $2,018

-30.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$24.1K $24.1K

-9.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 $55.1

$73.6 $73.6

-25.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.66 $45.66

$61.1 $61.1

-25.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 $86.8

$70.3 $70.3

23.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$101 $101

14.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$2,252 $2,252

-0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,401 $1,401

$1,855 $1,855

-24.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,782 $3,782

$4,689 $4,689

-19.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,708 $2,708

$3,838 $3,838

-29.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,304 $7,304

$4,388 $4,388

66.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,331 $3,331

$3,733 $3,733

-10.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,910 $4,910

$6,761 $6,761

-27.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.35

1.57%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,245 in Austin, TX and $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 38% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $76 in Austin, TX vs $101 in Fort Lee, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $429 per month, with Austin, TX 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

Austin, TX vs Fort Lee, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 16% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Fort Lee, NJ earns 38% less. 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: $2,245 in Austin, TX versus $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,398 in Austin, TX versus $2,018 in Fort Lee, NJ. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Austin, TX – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $101 in Fort Lee, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX 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, Austin, TX and Fort Lee, NJ 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 Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.