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: $962 in Alba Iulia versus $1,137 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,464 in Alba Iulia versus $1,720 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,967 in Alba Iulia versus $2,303 in Iasi.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 15% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 28% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.07 RON 41.02

$10.52 RON 47.54

-13.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.38 RON 155

$51.4 RON 232

-33.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.27 RON 28.34

$6.73 RON 30.43

-6.84%

Cappuccino

$2.41 RON 10.89

$2.68 RON 12.12

-10.07%

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

$1.90 RON 8.57

$2.08 RON 9.38

-8.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$1.74 RON 7.87

-5.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.18

$2.46 RON 11.11

-8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 RON 10.45

$3.42 RON 15.45

-32.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 RON 6.17

$1.40 RON 6.33

-2.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 RON 5.61

$1.22 RON 5.51

1.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 RON 7.38

$1.87 RON 8.44

-12.83%

Eggs

$3.04 RON 13.74

$3.21 RON 14.49

-5.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 RON 39.05

$7.95 RON 35.94

8.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.62 RON 29.91

$6.70 RON 30.28

-1.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.88 RON 53.7

$10.99 RON 49.66

8.10%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.42

$1.24 RON 5.60

-20.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.44

$1.62 RON 7.32

-12.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 RON 6.16

$1.73 RON 7.83

-21.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 RON 10.81

$1.97 RON 8.89

21.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 RON 3.54

$0.99 RON 4.47

-21.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 RON 2.75

$1.05 RON 4.73

-41.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.87 RON 3.95

$1.04 RON 4.68

-16.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RON 2.99

$0.86 RON 3.89

-23.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 RON 26.37

$6.37 RON 28.81

-8.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.32 RON 19.51

$6.61 RON 29.88

-34.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 RON 5.16

$1.09 RON 4.95

4.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 RON 6.08

$1.98 RON 8.95

-32.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 RON 3.76

$0.85 RON 3.83

-2.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.22 RON 77.8

$27.13 RON 123

-36.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 RON 3.19

$0.89 RON 4.03

-20.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 RON 3.46

$0.70 RON 3.16

10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.21 RON 23.54

$7.84 RON 35.44

-33.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.88

$1.66 RON 7.51

-8.43%

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

$28.0K RON 126.7K

$28.5K RON 129.0K

-1.76%

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

$27.3K RON 123.4K

$27.3K RON 123.6K

-0.15%

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

$137 RON 619

$156 RON 707

-12.38%

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

$8.11 RON 36.66

$8.47 RON 38.31

-4.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.06 RON 40.94

$10.21 RON 46.17

-11.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.74 RON 144

$47.10 RON 213

-32.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.20 RON 155

$18.25 RON 82.5

87.40%

Cinema Ticket

$5.42 RON 24.50

$8.17 RON 36.95

-33.66%

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

$454 RON 2,050

$463 RON 2,093

-2.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,512 RON 29.4K

$7,028 RON 31.8K

-7.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.24 RON 191

$62.3 RON 282

-32.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.28 RON 119

$42.79 RON 193

-38.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.6 RON 369

$86.4 RON 390

-5.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 RON 317

$86.9 RON 393

-19.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 RON 1,460

$474 RON 2,144

-31.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 RON 1,233

$361 RON 1,634

-24.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$550 RON 2,485

$750 RON 3,391

-26.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$451 RON 2,039

$550 RON 2,488

-18.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,683 RON 7,606

$3,076 RON 13.9K

-45.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,471 RON 6,650

$1,997 RON 9,025

-26.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$958 RON 4,331

$1,191 RON 5,383

-19.54%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Alba Iulia and $474 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 24% 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 $51.0 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $212 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Iasi earns 24% less. 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: $323 in Alba Iulia versus $474 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $962 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,137 in Iasi – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 58% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $962 in Alba Iulia versus $1,137 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 18% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.