Fort Lee, NJ vs North Arlington, NJ

North Arlington is moderately more affordable than Fort Lee, with a 10.2% lower cost of living index. Fort Lee scores 142 compared to 129 for North Arlington, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Lee can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lee is $2,255/month compared to $1,706/month in North Arlington — a 32% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while North Arlington has cheaper rent, Fort Lee actually has lower median home values ($422,200 vs $464,700).

Median household income in Fort Lee is $105,535 compared to $101,493 in North Arlington (+4%). Fort Lee does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Lee spend roughly 25.6% of their income on rent, more than the 20.2% in North Arlington.