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: $955 in Alba Iulia versus $1,122 in Timisoara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,444 in Alba Iulia versus $1,773 in Timisoara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,933 in Alba Iulia versus $2,424 in Timisoara.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Alba Iulia 29% lower, Timisoara 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.06 RON 40.99

$9.05 RON 40.96

0.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.65 RON 157

$58.5 RON 265

-40.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.26 RON 28.34

$8.28 RON 37.47

-24.40%

Cappuccino

$2.52 RON 11.40

$3.28 RON 14.82

-23.17%

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

$1.95 RON 8.84

$2.26 RON 10.21

-13.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 RON 7.34

$2.03 RON 9.17

-20.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 RON 10.04

$2.83 RON 12.78

-21.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 RON 10.30

$3.40 RON 15.39

-32.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 RON 6.32

$1.52 RON 6.86

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 RON 5.65

$1.31 RON 5.91

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.10

$1.48 RON 6.70

6.08%

Eggs

$2.95 RON 13.35

$3.25 RON 14.70

-9.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.52 RON 38.53

$9.63 RON 43.56

-11.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 RON 30.37

$6.64 RON 30.02

1.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 RON 53.9

$11.57 RON 52.3

3.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.59

$1.09 RON 4.92

-6.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.68

$1.55 RON 7.03

-4.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.32

$1.61 RON 7.30

-13.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 RON 11.31

$2.45 RON 11.10

2.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.72

$0.73 RON 3.30

12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 RON 2.74

$1.02 RON 4.59

-40.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 RON 4.00

$0.73 RON 3.30

20.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$0.73 RON 3.30

-8.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.63 RON 25.48

$5.76 RON 26.06

-2.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.50 RON 20.36

$7.79 RON 35.23

-42.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.13

$1.20 RON 5.41

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 RON 6.34

$1.68 RON 7.61

-16.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 RON 3.75

$0.90 RON 4.08

-7.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.29 RON 78.2

$29.98 RON 136

-42.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 RON 3.30

$0.90 RON 4.07

-18.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.17

$0.85 RON 3.83

-17.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.22 RON 23.60

$7.35 RON 33.25

-28.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 RON 7.07

$1.64 RON 7.42

-4.88%

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

$28.1K RON 127.2K

$27.9K RON 126.3K

0.77%

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

$28.0K RON 126.6K

$26.0K RON 117.8K

7.47%

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

$139 RON 627

$140 RON 631

-0.75%

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

$7.83 RON 35.40

$8.54 RON 38.62

-8.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.92 RON 40.36

$9.01 RON 40.78

-1.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.41 RON 147

$43.38 RON 196

-25.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.21 RON 159

$15.02 RON 68.0

134.42%

Cinema Ticket

$5.60 RON 25.33

$8.29 RON 37.49

-32.45%

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

$449 RON 2,031

$506 RON 2,287

-11.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,563 RON 29.7K

$10.1K RON 45.8K

-35.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.23 RON 191

$76.7 RON 347

-44.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 RON 119

$42.61 RON 193

-38.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 RON 380

$82.5 RON 373

1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.6 RON 310

$96.5 RON 436

-28.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 RON 1,427

$497 RON 2,247

-36.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 RON 1,236

$360 RON 1,629

-24.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 RON 2,435

$729 RON 3,299

-26.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 RON 2,057

$586 RON 2,650

-22.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 RON 7,796

$2,722 RON 12.3K

-36.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,459 RON 6,601

$2,009 RON 9,086

-27.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$962 RON 4,352

$1,228 RON 5,554

-21.65%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $316 in Alba Iulia and $497 in Timisoara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 28% 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 $204 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Timisoara earns 28% 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: $316 in Alba Iulia versus $497 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $955 per month in Alba Iulia versus $1,122 in Timisoara – 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 73% less than in Timisoara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $955 in Alba Iulia versus $1,122 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 18% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.