Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and York, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fort Lee, NJ and York, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,278 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $2,234 in York, PA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,135 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $3,383 in York, PA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,992 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $4,531 in York, PA.

Living in Fort Lee, NJ is roughly 47% more expensive than in York, PA, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fort Lee, NJ 139% above, York, PA 63% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.86 $24.86

$15.23 $15.23

63.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.1 $65.1

$75.3 $75.3

-13.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.91 $10.91

$9.99 $9.99

9.21%

Cappuccino

$5.49 $5.49

$4.81 $4.81

14.14%

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

$2.16 $2.16

$2.77 $2.77

-22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.37 $2.37

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.81 $7.81

$4.11 $4.11

90.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$5.70 $5.70

36.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 $1.29

$1.20 $1.20

7.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.93 $3.93

$4.53 $4.53

-13.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

$5.32 $5.32

21.80%

Eggs

$4.58 $4.58

$5.18 $5.18

-11.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 $12.56

$21.76 $21.76

-42.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.06 $12.06

$15.44 $15.44

-21.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.47 $16.47

$19.38 $19.38

-15.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.44 $5.44

1.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.83 $1.83

-5.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.22 $6.22

$4.73 $4.73

31.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.01 $5.01

$5.72 $5.72

-12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$4.06 $4.06

$3.21 $3.21

26.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.92 $3.92

$3.86 $3.86

1.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.28 $2.28

14.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 $2.71

$1.97 $1.97

37.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 $11.80

$10.48 $10.48

12.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.16 $12.16

$13.38 $13.38

-9.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.95 $1.95

-9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.80 $2.80

-27.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.75 $1.75

61.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$4.05 $4.05

-27.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.21 $1.21

64.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.37 $24.37

$19.73 $19.73

23.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.98 $0.98

-14.29%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$30.2K $30.2K

5.92%

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

$24.9K $24.9K

$25.4K $25.4K

-1.71%

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

$213 $213

$166 $166

28.48%

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

$77.8 $77.8

$50.9 $50.9

52.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$62.0 $62.0

6.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$124 $124

$47.96 $47.96

158.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.47 $35.47

Cinema Ticket

$14.44 $14.44

$11.88 $11.88

21.55%

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

$2,036 $2,036

$1,120 $1,120

81.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$35.4K $35.4K

-34.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.97 $41.97

$49.84 $49.84

-15.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 $57.5

$54.8 $54.8

4.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 $78.6

$68.2 $68.2

15.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 $85.1

$89.5 $89.5

-4.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,432 $2,432

$1,352 $1,352

79.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,782 $1,782

$1,013 $1,013

75.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,198 $5,198

$1,949 $1,949

166.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,600 $3,600

$1,675 $1,675

114.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,325 $4,325

$1,848 $1,848

133.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,720 $3,720

$1,827 $1,827

103.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,534 $6,534

$4,001 $4,001

63.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

6.35

-2.83%

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

Last update for Fort Lee, NJ: August 18, 2026

Last update for York, PA: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,432 in Fort Lee, NJ and $1,352 in York, PA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 63% 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: $65.0 in Fort Lee, NJ vs $75.0 in York, PA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $432 vs $478 per month, with Fort Lee, NJ 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 York, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

York, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making York, PA the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 63% 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: $2,432 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,352 in York, PA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,036 in Fort Lee, NJ versus $1,120 in York, PA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in York, PA – a meal for two runs $75.0 versus $65.0 in Fort Lee, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,234 in York, PA versus $3,278 in Fort Lee, NJ, a $2,000 budget is realistic in York, PA but tight or insufficient in Fort Lee, NJ. The gap between the two cities makes York, PA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 York, PA 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 York, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.