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: $942 in Alba Iulia versus $1,184 in Timisoara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,421 in Alba Iulia versus $1,820 in Timisoara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Alba Iulia versus $2,455 in Timisoara.

Living in Alba Iulia costs roughly 20% less than in Timisoara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 31% lower, Timisoara 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.58 RON 39.39

$10.78 RON 49.48

-20.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 RON 152

$48.57 RON 223

-31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 RON 28.02

$8.57 RON 39.33

-28.70%

Cappuccino

$2.36 RON 10.83

$3.05 RON 13.98

-22.62%

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

$1.88 RON 8.63

$2.29 RON 10.49

-17.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 RON 7.20

$1.78 RON 8.17

-11.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 RON 9.49

$2.62 RON 12.03

-20.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 RON 10.02

$4.52 RON 20.76

-51.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 RON 5.90

$1.47 RON 6.75

-12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 RON 5.22

$1.26 RON 5.79

-9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.24

$1.45 RON 6.64

8.97%

Eggs

$2.90 RON 13.32

$3.08 RON 14.11

-5.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 RON 37.08

$8.76 RON 40.19

-7.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.14 RON 28.18

$6.40 RON 29.37

-4.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 RON 51.1

$11.67 RON 53.5

-4.54%

Apples (1kg)

$0.92 RON 4.21

$1.23 RON 5.66

-25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.51

$1.58 RON 7.26

-10.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 RON 6.11

$1.53 RON 7.02

-13.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 RON 11.40

$2.44 RON 11.19

1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 RON 3.40

$0.76 RON 3.50

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 RON 2.83

$1.02 RON 4.69

-39.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 RON 3.91

$0.73 RON 3.37

16.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 RON 3.17

$0.78 RON 3.57

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 RON 24.70

$6.69 RON 30.71

-19.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.46 RON 20.45

$7.60 RON 34.85

-41.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.09

$1.24 RON 5.70

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.91

$1.80 RON 8.24

-28.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 RON 3.40

$1.08 RON 4.95

-31.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.35 RON 79.6

$35.39 RON 162

-50.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.19

$0.85 RON 3.91

-17.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 RON 3.24

$0.89 RON 4.10

-20.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 RON 22.75

$8.82 RON 40.48

-43.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.08

$1.92 RON 8.80

-19.79%

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

$29.0K RON 133.2K

$29.3K RON 134.5K

-0.98%

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

$25.2K RON 115.7K

$25.6K RON 117.5K

-1.52%

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

$129 RON 594

$176 RON 809

-26.59%

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

$7.80 RON 35.79

$6.85 RON 31.43

13.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.28 RON 42.58

$9.14 RON 41.92

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.21 RON 139

$41.11 RON 189

-26.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.46 RON 149

$16.53 RON 75.8

96.37%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 RON 23.93

$8.40 RON 38.55

-37.86%

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

$468 RON 2,149

$613 RON 2,812

-23.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,271 RON 33.4K

$9,005 RON 41.3K

-19.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.80 RON 187

$76.9 RON 353

-46.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.24 RON 116

$42.26 RON 194

-40.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 RON 357

$79.9 RON 366

-2.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.7 RON 297

$95.2 RON 437

-32.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,394

$564 RON 2,588

-46.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 RON 1,367

$378 RON 1,736

-21.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 RON 2,973

$871 RON 3,995

-25.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$484 RON 2,221

$635 RON 2,914

-23.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,709 RON 7,842

$2,565 RON 11.8K

-33.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,474 RON 6,765

$1,911 RON 8,769

-22.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$947 RON 4,345

$1,192 RON 5,471

-20.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.97

6.88

1.31%

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

Last update for Alba Iulia: September 12, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Alba Iulia and $564 in Timisoara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 26% 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: $33.00 in Alba Iulia vs $49.00 in Timisoara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $214 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 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 26% 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: $304 in Alba Iulia versus $564 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $942 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,184 in Timisoara – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 104% less than in Timisoara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $942 in Alba Iulia versus $1,184 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 26% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.