Median rent is 17% lower in Los Angeles ($1,879/mo vs $2,255/mo). Buying is cheaper in Fort Lee, where the median home runs $422,200 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Fort Lee ($105,535 vs $80,366 a year).
City A
Fort Lee, NJ
City B
Los Angeles, CA
How much would you need to earn in Los Angeles, CA to maintain your standard of living from Fort Lee, NJ?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Fort Lee
New Jersey
Los Angeles
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Los Angeles at $1,879/mo compared to $2,255/mo in Fort Lee (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $422,200 in Fort Lee — 52% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% versus 13.30% in California, so Fort Lee is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.63% in New Jersey and 7.25% in California; Fort Lee has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Fort Lee
Income tax: 10.75%
Sales tax: 6.63%
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Air quality data is available for Los Angeles (avg AQI 77.0) but not yet for Fort Lee.
Pick Fort Lee if you prioritize higher median household income ($105,535/yr).
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,879/mo median).
Pick Fort Lee if you prioritize lower state income tax (10.75%).
Is Fort Lee cheaper than Los Angeles?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fort Lee vs Los Angeles?
Median rent is $2,255/mo in Fort Lee, NJ and $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA. Los Angeles, CA has the lower rent by about 17%.
Which has higher salaries — Fort Lee or Los Angeles?
Median household income is $105,535 in Fort Lee, NJ and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA. Fort Lee, NJ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fort Lee or Los Angeles?
New Jersey's top income tax rate is 10.75% and California's is 13.30%. Fort Lee, NJ has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match my Fort Lee income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology