salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 35 minutes each way. It is a highly educated city: 65.8% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $130,560 a year. That is $63 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other New Jersey cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of New Jersey. It is number 261 of 291 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Fort Lee?
Share of households by yearly income. 43.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Fort Lee
| Size | Fort Lee | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,991 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,072 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,956 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,647 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Fort Lee overall?
Everyday prices in New Jersey overall are 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Fort Lee, so the New Jersey figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Fort Lee
Life in Fort Lee
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Fort Lee?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $156 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $448,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $44,800 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Fort Lee, NJ?
Renting in Fort Lee costs a median of about $3,264 a month in 2026, including utilities. The New Jersey median is $2,240.
How much do I need to make to live in Fort Lee?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $130,560 a year, or $63 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Fort Lee cheap or expensive?
Fort Lee is rated Expensive: rent takes 33.9% of the typical household income of $115,695. It ranks 261st cheapest of 291 New Jersey cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Fort Lee?
The median homeowner in Fort Lee pays $9,212 a year in property taxes, about 2.06% of the median home value.
Is Fort Lee more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in New Jersey are 9% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Fort Lee?
The median home value in Fort Lee is $448,000, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.
40,067 people live in Fort Lee. Numbers are typical (middle) values.