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: $3,166 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,719 in Austin, TX.

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

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

Living in Fort Lee, NJ is roughly 16% more expensive than Austin, TX, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.70 $19.70

$19.99 $19.99

-1.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$76.2 $76.2

32.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.74 $12.74

$10.13 $10.13

25.77%

Cappuccino

$5.31 $5.31

$5.49 $5.49

-3.28%

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

$2.40 $2.40

$2.72 $2.72

-11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 $1.28

$2.14 $2.14

-40.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.07 $7.07

$6.07 $6.07

16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$8.04 $8.04

14.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 $1.34

$1.09 $1.09

22.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.34 $3.34

-1.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$3.42 $3.42

25.44%

Eggs

$4.25 $4.25

$4.32 $4.32

-1.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.43 $21.43

$11.80 $11.80

81.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.73 $11.73

$10.68 $10.68

9.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.28 $17.28

$14.50 $14.50

19.17%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$4.79 $4.79

2.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.50 $1.50

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 $4.02

$4.51 $4.51

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$4.04 $4.04

0.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.76 $2.76

3.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$2.79 $2.79

36.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$2.04 $2.04

21.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 $2.70

$2.15 $2.15

25.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.02 $12.02

$9.23 $9.23

30.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.11 $12.11

$14.81 $14.81

-18.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.29 $2.29

-23.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.10 $6.10

$3.53 $3.53

72.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.77 $3.77

$1.52 $1.52

148.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.64 $43.64

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$4.29 $4.29

-28.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.82 $1.82

13.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.94 $23.94

$35.52 $35.52

-32.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$0.77 $0.77

20.78%

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

$29.8K $29.8K

$25.6K $25.6K

16.41%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-4.20%

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

$127 $127

$172 $172

-26.34%

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

$45.18 $45.18

$60.3 $60.3

-25.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.8 $63.8

$67.2 $67.2

-5.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$125 $125

$62.8 $62.8

98.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.85 $9.85

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 $15.15

$14.73 $14.73

2.85%

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

$2,018 $2,018

$1,398 $1,398

44.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$21.8K $21.8K

10.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.6 $73.6

$55.1 $55.1

33.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 $61.1

$45.66 $45.66

33.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.3 $70.3

$86.8 $86.8

-18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$115 $115

-12.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,252 $2,252

$2,245 $2,245

0.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,855 $1,855

$1,401 $1,401

32.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,689 $4,689

$3,782 $3,782

23.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,838 $3,838

$2,708 $2,708

41.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,388 $4,388

$7,304 $7,304

-39.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,733 $3,733

$3,331 $3,331

12.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,761 $6,761

$4,910 $4,910

37.69%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ and $2,245 in Austin, TX. 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: $101 in Fort Lee, NJ vs $76 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $429 vs $375 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 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.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 38% more on average, 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: $2,252 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,245 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,018 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,398 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 $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, 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 16% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.