🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $860 in Alexandria versus $1,137 in Iasi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Alexandria versus $1,720 in Iasi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,978 in Alexandria versus $2,303 in Iasi.
🙂Living in Alexandria costs roughly 24% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Alexandria36% lower, Iasi15% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.00RON 40.68
$10.52RON 47.54
-14.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.89RON 153
$51.4RON 232
-34.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84RON 30.94
$6.73RON 30.43
1.63%
Cappuccino
$1.87RON 8.44
$2.68RON 12.12
-30.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94RON 8.78
$2.08RON 9.38
-6.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64RON 7.41
$1.74RON 7.87
-5.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24RON 10.15
$2.46RON 11.11
-8.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84RON 12.83
$3.42RON 15.45
-16.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34RON 6.06
$1.40RON 6.33
-4.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27RON 5.73
$1.22RON 5.51
4.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41RON 6.37
$1.87RON 8.44
-24.60%
Eggs
$1.40RON 6.31
$3.21RON 14.49
-56.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.34RON 24.15
$7.95RON 35.94
-32.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.48RON 20.26
$6.70RON 30.28
-33.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59RON 38.82
$10.99RON 49.66
-21.84%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89RON 4.03
$1.24RON 5.60
-28.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.80
$1.62RON 7.32
-6.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.31
$1.73RON 7.83
-31.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12RON 5.07
$1.97RON 8.89
-43.15%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48RON 2.18
$0.99RON 4.47
-51.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71RON 3.21
$1.05RON 4.73
-32.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44RON 2.01
$1.04RON 4.68
-57.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72RON 3.26
$0.86RON 3.89
-16.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65RON 25.53
$6.37RON 28.81
-11.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.62RON 25.41
$6.61RON 29.88
-14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72RON 3.24
$1.09RON 4.95
-33.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 4.10
$1.98RON 8.95
-54.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72RON 3.27
$0.85RON 3.83
-15.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07RON 104
$27.13RON 123
-14.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47RON 2.13
$0.89RON 4.03
-47.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.44RON 1.97
$0.70RON 3.16
-37.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.20RON 23.50
$7.84RON 35.44
-33.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.16
$1.66RON 7.51
-4.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KRON 81.7K
$28.5KRON 129.0K
-36.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KRON 107.9K
$27.3KRON 123.6K
-12.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115RON 521
$156RON 707
-26.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.98RON 31.55
$8.47RON 38.31
-17.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.86RON 31.01
$10.21RON 46.17
-32.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.58RON 174
$47.10RON 213
-18.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.09RON 41.07
$18.25RON 82.5
-50.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66RON 21.05
$8.17RON 36.95
-42.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436RON 1,971
$463RON 2,093
-5.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,987RON 31.6K
$7,028RON 31.8K
-0.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6RON 306
$62.3RON 282
8.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95RON 158
$42.79RON 193
-18.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.3RON 313
$86.4RON 390
-19.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.5RON 310
$86.9RON 393
-21.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349RON 1,576
$474RON 2,144
-26.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232RON 1,047
$361RON 1,634
-35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802RON 3,624
$750RON 3,391
6.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571RON 2,580
$550RON 2,488
3.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,357RON 6,135
$3,076RON 13.9K
-55.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$843RON 3,811
$1,997RON 9,025
-57.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alexandria
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,332RON 6,021
$1,191RON 5,383
11.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
7.37
-11.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alexandria: June 1, 2026
Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Alexandria and $474 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Alexandria vs $51.0 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $212 per month, with Alexandria 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
Alexandria vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alexandria or Iasi?
Alexandria wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Iasi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Alexandria or Iasi?
Alexandria pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alexandria vs Iasi?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Alexandria versus $474 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Alexandria compared to Iasi?
All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Alexandria versus $1,137 in Iasi – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Alexandria vs Iasi?
A monthly transit pass in Alexandria runs roughly 18% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Alexandria or Iasi?
At $860 in Alexandria versus $1,137 in Iasi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alexandria or Iasi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $860 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria hard to pass up.
How safe is Alexandria compared to Iasi?
Safety-wise, Alexandria 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alexandria vs other spots: cost of living compared