Fort Lee, NJ vs Union City, NJ

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Union City is 17.5% cheaper than Fort Lee. With a cost index of 121 vs 142, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Union City to Fort Lee should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fort Lee is $2,255/month compared to $1,489/month in Union City — a 51% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Union City has cheaper rent, Fort Lee actually has lower median home values ($422,200 vs $446,800).

Median household income in Fort Lee is $105,535 compared to $65,369 in Union City (+61.4%). While Fort Lee 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, less than the 27.3% in Union City.