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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $941 in Alba Iulia versus $1,156 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,435 in Alba Iulia versus $1,753 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,928 in Alba Iulia versus $2,350 in Iasi.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 19% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 30% lower, Iasi 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.30 RON 42.44

$10.39 RON 47.44

-10.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.22 RON 156

$51.6 RON 235

-33.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 RON 28.49

$7.12 RON 32.48

-12.36%

Cappuccino

$2.53 RON 11.56

$2.63 RON 12.03

-3.80%

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

$1.89 RON 8.64

$2.11 RON 9.62

-10.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 RON 7.44

$1.71 RON 7.81

-4.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 RON 9.92

$2.47 RON 11.28

-12.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.27

$3.36 RON 15.34

-33.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 RON 6.35

$1.43 RON 6.52

-2.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 RON 5.75

$1.22 RON 5.55

3.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.19

$1.89 RON 8.61

-16.93%

Eggs

$3.07 RON 13.99

$3.09 RON 14.08

-0.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 RON 38.00

$8.12 RON 37.08

2.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 RON 30.04

$6.93 RON 31.62

-5.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.68 RON 53.3

$10.88 RON 49.67

7.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.63

$1.23 RON 5.62

-17.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 RON 6.52

$1.55 RON 7.10

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.35

$1.71 RON 7.81

-18.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.44 RON 11.13

$1.92 RON 8.75

27.08%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 RON 3.82

$0.94 RON 4.28

-10.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.93

$1.00 RON 4.58

-36.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 RON 3.99

$1.00 RON 4.56

-13.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 RON 3.25

$0.86 RON 3.92

-17.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.73 RON 26.15

$6.28 RON 28.65

-8.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.31 RON 19.66

$6.39 RON 29.15

-32.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 5.00

$1.10 RON 5.01

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 RON 6.43

$1.92 RON 8.78

-26.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 RON 3.55

$0.79 RON 3.63

-1.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.17 RON 78.4

$27.96 RON 128

-38.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 RON 3.49

$0.94 RON 4.28

-19.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 RON 3.40

$0.71 RON 3.24

4.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.09 RON 23.22

$8.14 RON 37.15

-37.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.93

$1.68 RON 7.66

-9.52%

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

$27.7K RON 126.3K

$28.5K RON 130.2K

-2.98%

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

$28.3K RON 129.3K

$27.7K RON 126.5K

2.17%

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

$138 RON 632

$157 RON 714

-11.58%

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

$7.83 RON 35.75

$8.51 RON 38.86

-7.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.00 RON 41.07

$10.26 RON 46.83

-12.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.27 RON 147

$47.27 RON 216

-31.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.05 RON 160

$18.50 RON 84.5

89.46%

Cinema Ticket

$5.57 RON 25.44

$8.00 RON 36.53

-30.37%

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

$450 RON 2,056

$471 RON 2,148

-4.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,467 RON 29.5K

$6,866 RON 31.3K

-5.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.67 RON 195

$61.0 RON 278

-30.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.13 RON 119

$43.56 RON 199

-40.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 RON 386

$86.8 RON 396

-2.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.2 RON 320

$87.5 RON 399

-19.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 RON 1,447

$473 RON 2,160

-33.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 RON 1,253

$359 RON 1,640

-23.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 RON 2,458

$742 RON 3,386

-27.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 RON 2,020

$533 RON 2,434

-17.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,675 RON 7,648

$2,911 RON 13.3K

-42.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,415 RON 6,460

$1,932 RON 8,820

-26.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$944 RON 4,310

$1,182 RON 5,396

-20.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

7.37

4.48%

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

Last update for Alba Iulia: July 13, 2026

Last update for Iasi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Alba Iulia and $473 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 25% 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 $52.0 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $211 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 Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 25% lower in Iasi. 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: $317 in Alba Iulia versus $473 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $941 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,156 in Iasi – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 63% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $941 in Alba Iulia versus $1,156 in Iasi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Alba Iulia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alba Iulia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Iasi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Alba Iulia and Iasi 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 23% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.