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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,424 in York, PA versus $3,156 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,580 in York, PA versus $5,053 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,736 in York, PA versus $6,951 in Fort Lee, NJ.

Living in York, PA costs roughly 23% less than in Fort Lee, NJ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: York, PA 81% above, Fort Lee, NJ 136% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 $20.09

$19.76 $19.76

1.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.8 $65.8

$102 $102

-35.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$12.54 $12.54

-12.92%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$5.32 $5.32

-1.50%

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

$1.27 $1.27

$2.40 $2.40

-47.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.28 $1.28

-24.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 $6.65

$6.97 $6.97

-4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.59 $7.59

$8.98 $8.98

-15.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.32 $1.32

-10.61%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.23 $3.23

7.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$4.44 $4.44

59.46%

Eggs

$6.51 $6.51

$4.23 $4.23

53.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.20 $19.20

$21.03 $21.03

-8.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.84 $19.84

$11.88 $11.88

67.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.13 $24.13

$17.56 $17.56

37.41%

Apples (1kg)

$7.81 $7.81

$4.88 $4.88

60.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.51 $1.51

96.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.05 $8.05

$3.84 $3.84

109.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.04 $11.04

$4.08 $4.08

170.59%

Potato (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.77 $2.77

75.09%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.91 $3.91

-4.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.40 $2.40

14.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$2.57 $2.57

22.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.91 $7.91

$12.05 $12.05

-34.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 $13.53

$12.18 $12.18

11.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 $3.80

$5.82 $5.82

-34.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$3.80 $3.80

-46.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.03 $3.03

48.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.00 $2.00

-24.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.02 $29.02

$24.47 $24.47

18.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$0.88 $0.88

-4.55%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$30.0K $30.0K

-11.82%

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

$24.5K $24.5K

$25.6K $25.6K

-4.42%

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

$217 $217

$127 $127

71.38%

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

$42.25 $42.25

$45.43 $45.43

-7.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.7 $60.7

$64.5 $64.5

-5.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.31 $27.31

$126 $126

-78.31%

Cinema Ticket

$12.83 $12.83

$14.74 $14.74

-12.96%

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

$1,098 $1,098

$2,014 $2,014

-45.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

-0.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.23 $48.23

$75.1 $75.1

-35.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.71 $48.71

$59.7 $59.7

-18.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.60 $44.60

$70.2 $70.2

-36.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 $983

$2,203 $2,203

-55.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$982 $982

$1,842 $1,842

-46.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,833 $1,833

$4,685 $4,685

-60.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,720 $1,720

$3,869 $3,869

-55.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,832 $1,832

$4,241 $4,241

-56.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,859 $1,859

$3,753 $3,753

-50.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,074 $4,074

$6,521 $6,521

-37.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

6.35

2.83%

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

Last update for York, PA: July 22, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $983 in York, PA and $2,203 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Fort Lee, NJ pays 60% 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: $66.0 in York, PA vs $102 in Fort Lee, NJ. Groceries flip the comparison at $588 vs $426, with Fort Lee, NJ cheaper for home cooking.

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

York, PA vs Fort Lee, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

York, PA wins on cost – living expenses run 30% 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.

On paper, salaries run 60% lower in Fort Lee, NJ. 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: $983 in York, PA versus $2,203 in Fort Lee, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,098 in York, PA versus $2,014 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 York, PA – a meal for two runs $66.0 versus $102 in Fort Lee, NJ. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $2,424 in York, PA versus $3,156 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, York, PA 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 York, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Fort Lee, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.