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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,156 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,701 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,053 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $4,086 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,951 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $5,470 in Austin, TX.

Living in Fort Lee, NJ is roughly 17% more expensive than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Lee, NJ 136% above, Austin, TX 102% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$19.97 $19.97

-1.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$74.5 $74.5

36.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.54 $12.54

$9.85 $9.85

27.31%

Cappuccino

$5.32 $5.32

$5.79 $5.79

-8.12%

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

$2.40 $2.40

$2.75 $2.75

-12.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.17 $2.17

-41.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.97 $6.97

$5.98 $5.98

16.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.98 $8.98

$8.11 $8.11

10.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 $1.32

$1.10 $1.10

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.23 $3.23

$3.28 $3.28

-1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$3.37 $3.37

31.75%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$4.31 $4.31

-1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.03 $21.03

$12.02 $12.02

74.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.88 $11.88

$10.58 $10.58

12.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.56 $17.56

$14.59 $14.59

20.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$5.04 $5.04

-3.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.57 $1.57

-3.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.84 $3.84

$4.38 $4.38

-12.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.07 $4.07

0.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$2.82 $2.82

38.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.96 $1.96

22.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.23 $2.23

15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.05 $12.05

$8.75 $8.75

37.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.18 $12.18

$14.71 $14.71

-17.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.34 $2.34

-24.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.47 $3.47

67.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.52 $1.52

150.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.74 $42.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$4.31 $4.31

-29.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.00 $2.00

$1.80 $1.80

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.47 $24.47

$35.23 $35.23

-30.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$0.80 $0.80

10.00%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$25.7K $25.7K

16.69%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.8K $26.8K

-4.47%

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

$127 $127

$173 $173

-26.94%

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

$45.43 $45.43

$58.5 $58.5

-22.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.5 $64.5

$67.1 $67.1

-3.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$126 $126

$61.8 $61.8

103.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$14.74 $14.74

$14.80 $14.80

-0.41%

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

$2,014 $2,014

$1,414 $1,414

42.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$22.1K $22.1K

5.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 $75.1

$54.9 $54.9

36.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.7 $59.7

$46.67 $46.67

28.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 $70.2

$87.6 $87.6

-19.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$119 $119

-15.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,203 $2,203

$2,200 $2,200

0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,842 $1,842

$1,428 $1,428

29.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,685 $4,685

$3,769 $3,769

24.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,869 $3,869

$2,704 $2,704

43.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,241 $4,241

$7,334 $7,334

-42.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,753 $3,753

$3,140 $3,140

19.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,521 $6,521

$5,093 $5,093

28.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.45

-1.55%

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

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: July 20, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,203 in Fort Lee, NJ and $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 28% 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: $102 in Fort Lee, NJ vs $74.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 vs $376 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

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

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 17% 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.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Fort Lee, NJ, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,203 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,200 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,014 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,414 in Austin, TX. 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 $74.0 versus $102 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, Fort Lee, NJ and Austin, TX 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 17% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.