😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Alba Iulia versus $957 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Alba Iulia versus $1,566 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,981 in Alba Iulia versus $2,176 in Brasilia.
🌍Living in Alba Iulia is roughly 1% more expensive than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia30% lower, Brasilia30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.77RON 39.61
$8.61R$44.15
1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.62RON 152
$39.06R$200
-13.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11RON 27.57
$8.00R$41.00
-23.62%
Cappuccino
$2.38RON 10.74
$2.55R$13.05
-6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81RON 8.17
$1.45R$7.44
24.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51RON 6.83
$0.96R$4.95
57.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07RON 9.34
$2.26R$11.58
-8.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23RON 10.06
$3.89R$19.95
-42.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30RON 5.88
$1.07R$5.47
21.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21RON 5.48
$2.04R$10.45
-40.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.88
$1.26R$6.45
20.63%
Eggs
$2.87RON 12.95
$2.44R$12.52
17.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.20RON 37.04
$12.06R$61.8
-32.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.46RON 29.19
$4.06R$20.82
59.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33RON 51.2
$8.24R$42.26
37.50%
Apples(1kg)
$0.99RON 4.45
$2.34R$12.02
-57.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37RON 6.21
$1.42R$7.28
-3.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37RON 6.17
$1.27R$6.52
7.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40RON 10.82
$1.65R$8.48
45.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74RON 3.35
$1.16R$5.93
-36.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63RON 2.83
$1.01R$5.18
-37.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90RON 4.07
$0.83R$4.26
8.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67RON 3.03
$0.98R$5.00
-31.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67RON 25.58
$2.39R$12.23
137.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.45RON 20.11
$7.99R$40.96
-44.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18RON 5.33
$1.30R$6.67
-9.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35RON 6.09
$2.40R$12.28
-43.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80RON 3.60
$0.92R$4.69
-13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.49RON 79.0
$35.15R$180
-50.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67RON 3.00
$1.05R$5.39
-36.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70RON 3.15
$0.85R$4.38
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.78RON 21.59
$5.97R$30.59
-19.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64RON 7.42
$1.28R$6.56
28.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6KRON 133.7K
$22.6KR$116.0K
30.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KRON 114.4K
$32.1KR$164.5K
-21.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$131RON 591
$91.1R$467
43.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.84RON 35.38
$12.43R$63.7
-36.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.42RON 42.53
$22.55R$116
-58.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.99RON 140
$31.51R$161
-1.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.48RON 147
$26.35R$135
23.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37RON 24.24
$7.86R$40.27
-31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$472RON 2,129
$813R$4,168
-42.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,101RON 32.1K
$16.3KR$83.6K
-56.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.19RON 181
$52.2R$268
-23.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.56RON 111
$43.67R$224
-43.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1RON 357
$82.7R$424
-4.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.9RON 302
$86.5R$443
-22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312RON 1,406
$500R$2,564
-37.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295RON 1,333
$266R$1,364
10.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633RON 2,859
$1,133R$5,807
-44.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495RON 2,237
$562R$2,879
-11.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,673RON 7,554
$2,411R$12.4K
-30.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,454RON 6,563
$1,705R$8,739
-14.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$961RON 4,337
$876R$4,489
9.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.97
11.8
-40.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alba Iulia: August 30, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Alba Iulia and $500 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alba Iulia pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Alba Iulia vs $39.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $209 per month, with Alba Iulia cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alba Iulia vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alba Iulia and in Brasilia?
Alba Iulia and Brasilia differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($966 vs $957 including rent). Brasilia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Alba Iulia or Brasilia?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Alba Iulia, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Alba Iulia and Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Alba Iulia versus $500 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Alba Iulia and in Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Alba Iulia versus $957 in Brasilia – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Brasilia runs roughly 101% less than in Alba Iulia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Alba Iulia or in Brasilia?
At $957 in Brasilia versus $966 in Alba Iulia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Brasilia but tight or insufficient in Alba Iulia. The gap between the two cities makes Brasilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Alba Iulia or Brasilia more family-friendly?
For families, Brasilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alba Iulia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Alba Iulia or Brasilia?
Safety-wise, Alba Iulia and Brasilia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Brasilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Alba Iulia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alba Iulia vs other spots: cost of living compared