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: $966 in Alba Iulia versus $1,305 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,474 in Alba Iulia versus $1,902 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,981 in Alba Iulia versus $2,499 in Iasi.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 26% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 30% lower, Iasi 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 RON 39.61

$11.00 RON 49.65

-20.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.62 RON 152

$43.93 RON 198

-23.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 RON 27.57

$7.83 RON 35.36

-21.97%

Cappuccino

$2.38 RON 10.74

$2.97 RON 13.42

-19.87%

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

$1.81 RON 8.17

$2.21 RON 9.98

-18.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 RON 6.83

$1.90 RON 8.57

-20.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 RON 9.34

$3.27 RON 14.77

-36.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 RON 10.06

$4.09 RON 18.49

-45.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 RON 5.88

$1.67 RON 7.52

-22.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.48

$1.43 RON 6.44

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.88

$2.15 RON 9.70

-29.30%

Eggs

$2.87 RON 12.95

$3.52 RON 15.89

-18.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.20 RON 37.04

$8.72 RON 39.37

-5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 RON 29.19

$6.48 RON 29.24

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 RON 51.2

$10.28 RON 46.42

10.21%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.45

$1.40 RON 6.33

-29.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.21

$1.63 RON 7.38

-15.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.17

$1.74 RON 7.84

-21.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.82

$2.26 RON 10.20

6.19%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 RON 3.35

$0.92 RON 4.15

-19.57%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.83

$0.94 RON 4.26

-32.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$1.16 RON 5.22

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RON 3.03

$1.01 RON 4.58

-33.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.67 RON 25.58

$6.60 RON 29.80

-14.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.45 RON 20.11

$6.60 RON 29.79

-32.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 RON 5.33

$1.40 RON 6.34

-15.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 RON 6.09

$2.21 RON 9.96

-38.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 RON 3.60

$0.89 RON 4.04

-10.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.49 RON 79.0

$28.55 RON 129

-38.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.00

$0.85 RON 3.82

-21.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.15

$0.84 RON 3.79

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 RON 21.59

$8.92 RON 40.28

-46.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$1.84 RON 8.29

-10.87%

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

$29.6K RON 133.7K

$30.1K RON 135.8K

-1.59%

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

$25.3K RON 114.4K

$29.1K RON 131.5K

-13.01%

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

$131 RON 591

$192 RON 867

-31.85%

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

$7.84 RON 35.38

$7.81 RON 35.26

0.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.42 RON 42.53

$8.94 RON 40.34

5.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.99 RON 140

$46.28 RON 209

-33.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.48 RON 147

$16.61 RON 75.0

95.54%

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 RON 24.24

$9.05 RON 40.86

-40.66%

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

$472 RON 2,129

$421 RON 1,902

11.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,101 RON 32.1K

$7,347 RON 33.2K

-3.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.19 RON 181

$75.5 RON 341

-46.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.56 RON 111

$40.56 RON 183

-39.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 RON 357

$95.7 RON 432

-17.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 RON 302

$95.8 RON 432

-30.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,406

$556 RON 2,509

-43.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 RON 1,333

$441 RON 1,989

-32.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 RON 2,859

$916 RON 4,134

-30.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$495 RON 2,237

$698 RON 3,151

-29.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,673 RON 7,554

$2,963 RON 13.4K

-43.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,454 RON 6,563

$1,991 RON 8,991

-27.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$961 RON 4,337

$1,164 RON 5,255

-17.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.97

7.18

-2.92%

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

Last update for Alba Iulia: August 30, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Alba Iulia and $556 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 21% 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 $44.00 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $224 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 21% 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: $312 in Alba Iulia versus $556 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $966 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,305 in Iasi – a 35% 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 $966 in Alba Iulia versus $1,305 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 35% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.