Cost of Living Comparison Between Alba Iulia and Donegal Cost of Living Comparison Between Alba Iulia and Donegal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $966 in Alba Iulia versus $1,953 in Donegal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Alba Iulia versus $2,811 in Donegal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,981 in Alba Iulia versus $3,668 in Donegal.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 51% less than in Donegal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Alba Iulia is 30% below, Donegal is 42% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 RON 39.77

$15.20 €13.11

-42.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.62 RON 152

$88.6 €76.4

-62.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 RON 27.69

$7.10 €6.12

-13.94%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RON 10.78

$3.16 €2.73

-24.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 RON 8.20

$1.70 €1.46

6.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.85

$1.18 €1.02

27.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 RON 9.38

$7.48 €6.45

-72.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RON 10.11

$6.82 €5.88

-67.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 RON 5.91

$1.74 €1.50

-25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.50

$1.87 €1.61

-35.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.90

$1.88 €1.62

-19.15%

Eggs

$2.87 RON 13.01

$3.45 €2.98

-16.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 RON 37.20

$8.02 €6.92

2.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 RON 29.31

$13.34 €11.50

-51.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 RON 51.4

$13.71 €11.82

-17.36%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.47

$2.35 €2.03

-57.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.23

$1.65 €1.43

-16.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.19

$1.42 €1.23

-3.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.86

$4.31 €3.72

-44.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 RON 3.36

$1.40 €1.21

-47.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.84

$2.91 €2.51

-78.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 RON 4.08

$1.34 €1.16

-32.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$2.11 €1.82

-68.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 RON 25.69

$21.88 €18.87

-74.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.45 RON 20.19

$17.75 €15.31

-74.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 RON 5.35

$3.13 €2.70

-62.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 RON 6.12

$2.91 €2.51

-53.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 RON 3.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.49 RON 79.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.02

$5.76 €4.97

-88.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.16

$1.52 €1.31

-53.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 RON 21.68

$68.9 €59.4

-93.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 RON 7.45

$2.09 €1.80

-21.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.6K RON 134.2K

$40.0K €34.5K

-26.00%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K RON 114.8K

$39.8K €34.3K

-36.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$131 RON 593

$174 €150

-24.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.84 RON 35.53

$21.58 €18.62

-63.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.42 RON 42.71

$46.13 €39.78

-79.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.99 RON 141

$59.0 €50.9

-47.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.48 RON 147

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 RON 24.34

$11.64 €10.04

-53.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$472 RON 2,138

$868 €748

-45.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,101 RON 32.2K

$2,293 €1,978

209.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.19 RON 182

$74.4 €64.2

-46.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.56 RON 111

$38.07 €32.84

-35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 RON 359

$86.1 €74.3

-8.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 RON 303

$98.3 €84.8

-31.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,412

$1,140 €984

-72.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 RON 1,338

$855 €738

-65.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 RON 2,871

$1,710 €1,475

-62.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 RON 2,246

$1,291 €1,113

-61.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,673 RON 7,586

$1,754 €1,513

-4.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,454 RON 6,591

$1,141 €984

27.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$961 RON 4,356

$4,418 €3,811

-78.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.97

3.6

93.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alba Iulia: August 30, 2026

Last update for Donegal: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Alba Iulia and $1,140 in Donegal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Donegal pays 360% 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 $89.0 in Donegal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $336 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 Donegal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 360% lower in Donegal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Alba Iulia versus $1,140 in Donegal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Donegal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,953 in Donegal – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $966 in Alba Iulia versus $1,953 in Donegal, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Donegal. The gap between the two cities makes Alba Iulia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Alba Iulia and Donegal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Alba Iulia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Donegal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.