😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $941 in Alba Iulia versus $866 in Brasilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,435 in Alba Iulia versus $1,408 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,928 in Alba Iulia versus $1,949 in Brasilia.
🌍Living in Alba Iulia is roughly 9% more expensive than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia30% lower, Brasilia35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.30RON 42.44
$7.33R$37.45
26.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.22RON 156
$40.07R$205
-14.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24RON 28.49
$6.37R$32.57
-2.04%
Cappuccino
$2.53RON 11.56
$1.88R$9.59
34.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89RON 8.64
$1.18R$6.03
60.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63RON 7.44
$0.86R$4.40
89.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.17RON 9.92
$1.83R$9.37
18.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25RON 10.27
$3.30R$16.88
-31.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39RON 6.35
$1.00R$5.10
39.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26RON 5.75
$1.61R$8.22
-21.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.19
$1.41R$7.23
11.35%
Eggs
$3.07RON 13.99
$2.12R$10.81
44.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32RON 38.00
$9.51R$48.59
-12.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.58RON 30.04
$3.29R$16.82
100.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.68RON 53.3
$6.92R$35.37
68.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01RON 4.63
$2.02R$10.34
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43RON 6.52
$1.40R$7.13
2.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39RON 6.35
$1.15R$5.87
20.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44RON 11.13
$1.60R$8.19
52.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84RON 3.82
$1.23R$6.28
-31.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64RON 2.93
$1.29R$6.59
-50.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87RON 3.99
$0.74R$3.79
17.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71RON 3.25
$0.65R$3.34
9.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73RON 26.15
$2.20R$11.22
160.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.31RON 19.66
$7.96R$40.68
-45.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 5.00
$1.08R$5.51
1.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41RON 6.43
$2.26R$11.53
-37.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78RON 3.55
$0.98R$4.99
-20.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.17RON 78.4
$44.21R$226
-61.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76RON 3.49
$0.95R$4.87
-20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74RON 3.40
$0.79R$4.06
-6.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.09RON 23.22
$5.78R$29.52
-11.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52RON 6.93
$1.12R$5.73
35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRON 126.3K
$24.7KR$126.4K
11.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRON 129.3K
$29.3KR$149.8K
-3.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138RON 632
$71.2R$364
94.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.83RON 35.75
$13.29R$67.9
-41.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.00RON 41.07
$20.78R$106
-56.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.27RON 147
$25.51R$130
26.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.05RON 160
$21.65R$111
61.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57RON 25.44
$7.07R$36.11
-21.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$450RON 2,056
$480R$2,453
-6.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,467RON 29.5K
$15.3KR$78.0K
-57.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.67RON 195
$57.6R$294
-25.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.13RON 119
$40.90R$209
-36.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5RON 386
$67.8R$347
24.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2RON 320
$64.1R$328
9.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317RON 1,447
$409R$2,089
-22.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274RON 1,253
$256R$1,309
7.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$538RON 2,458
$966R$4,935
-44.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443RON 2,020
$554R$2,830
-20.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,675RON 7,648
$2,502R$12.8K
-33.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,415RON 6,460
$1,681R$8,593
-15.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alba Iulia
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$944RON 4,310
$938R$4,794
0.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
11.87
-35.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alba Iulia: July 13, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Alba Iulia and $409 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alba Iulia pays 1% 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 $40.00 in Brasilia. Groceries flip the comparison at $202 vs $180, with Brasilia cheaper for home cooking.
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
Is Brasilia cheaper than Alba Iulia?
Brasilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Alba Iulia or Brasilia?
Average pay runs 1% 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: $317 in Alba Iulia versus $409 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 $941 per month in Alba Iulia versus $866 in Brasilia – a 9% 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 157% less than in Alba Iulia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Alba Iulia or Brasilia?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Brasilia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 9% 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