Fort Lee, NJ vs Madison, NJ

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fort Lee is 20.9% cheaper than Madison. With a cost index of 142 vs 180, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fort Lee to Madison should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lee is $2,255/month compared to $2,248/month in Madison — a 0% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Madison has cheaper rent, Fort Lee actually has lower median home values ($422,200 vs $882,900).

Median household income in Fort Lee is $105,535 compared to $168,469 in Madison (-37.4%). While Madison is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lee spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16% in Madison.