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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Alba Iulia versus $1,130 in Timisoara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,438 in Alba Iulia versus $1,764 in Timisoara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,931 in Alba Iulia versus $2,397 in Timisoara.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 16% less than in Timisoara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 29% lower, Timisoara 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.42 RON 42.82

$9.26 RON 42.11

1.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.74 RON 158

$57.5 RON 262

-39.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 RON 28.07

$7.92 RON 36.00

-22.10%

Cappuccino

$2.53 RON 11.51

$3.19 RON 14.50

-20.69%

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

$1.96 RON 8.92

$2.28 RON 10.38

-14.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 RON 7.20

$1.99 RON 9.04

-20.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 RON 9.81

$2.69 RON 12.23

-19.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 RON 10.76

$3.37 RON 15.30

-29.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 RON 6.12

$1.53 RON 6.96

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 RON 5.67

$1.31 RON 5.95

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 RON 7.11

$1.51 RON 6.88

3.31%

Eggs

$2.99 RON 13.58

$3.20 RON 14.53

-6.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 RON 38.82

$9.61 RON 43.70

-11.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 RON 29.42

$6.43 RON 29.25

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.65 RON 53.0

$11.51 RON 52.3

1.22%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.41

$1.09 RON 4.94

-11.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.47

$1.57 RON 7.14

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 RON 6.20

$1.60 RON 7.29

-15.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 RON 11.33

$2.59 RON 11.78

-3.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 RON 3.55

$0.72 RON 3.25

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.92

$0.99 RON 4.49

-35.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 RON 4.20

$0.72 RON 3.26

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RON 2.98

$0.79 RON 3.60

-16.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.68 RON 25.80

$5.88 RON 26.75

-3.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.48 RON 20.36

$7.56 RON 34.39

-40.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.04

$1.25 RON 5.69

-11.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 RON 6.12

$1.72 RON 7.84

-21.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 RON 3.77

$0.97 RON 4.39

-14.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.54 RON 79.7

$29.76 RON 135

-41.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 RON 3.45

$0.85 RON 3.87

-10.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 RON 3.38

$0.83 RON 3.79

-10.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 RON 23.60

$7.32 RON 33.26

-29.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 RON 6.87

$1.66 RON 7.54

-9.04%

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

$27.8K RON 126.4K

$28.3K RON 128.5K

-1.65%

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

$27.4K RON 124.5K

$26.8K RON 121.8K

2.20%

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

$136 RON 617

$140 RON 636

-3.04%

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

$8.10 RON 36.81

$8.29 RON 37.67

-2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.90 RON 40.48

$9.39 RON 42.71

-5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.77 RON 144

$42.69 RON 194

-25.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.58 RON 157

$15.17 RON 69.0

127.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 RON 25.24

$7.84 RON 35.65

-29.21%

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

$458 RON 2,081

$496 RON 2,255

-7.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,684 RON 30.4K

$10.1K RON 46.1K

-34.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.25 RON 197

$78.5 RON 357

-44.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.59 RON 116

$42.72 RON 194

-40.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.3 RON 374

$82.5 RON 375

-0.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.6 RON 316

$96.2 RON 438

-27.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$323 RON 1,468

$489 RON 2,223

-33.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$276 RON 1,255

$355 RON 1,614

-22.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 RON 2,522

$717 RON 3,261

-22.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$442 RON 2,010

$599 RON 2,725

-26.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,670 RON 7,594

$2,689 RON 12.2K

-37.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,416 RON 6,436

$1,949 RON 8,862

-27.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$937 RON 4,259

$1,206 RON 5,483

-22.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.7

6.66

15.62%

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

Last update for Alba Iulia: July 27, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $323 in Alba Iulia and $489 in Timisoara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 29% 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: $35.00 in Alba Iulia vs $58.0 in Timisoara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $218 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 Timisoara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Timisoara. 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 $489 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $945 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,130 in Timisoara – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 70% less than in Timisoara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $945 in Alba Iulia versus $1,130 in Timisoara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Timisoara. 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 Timisoara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Alba Iulia and Timisoara 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 20% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.