Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $929 per month in Arad vs $1,305 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Arad vs $1,902 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,990 per month in Arad vs $2,499 in Iasi, rent included.

Arad is about 29% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Arad and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Arad 32% lower, Iasi 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.62 RON 38.94

$11.00 RON 49.67

-21.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.56 RON 156

$43.93 RON 198

-21.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 RON 35.47

$7.83 RON 35.37

0.26%

Cappuccino

$2.67 RON 12.08

$2.97 RON 13.43

-10.10%

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

$1.57 RON 7.07

$2.21 RON 9.98

-28.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 RON 7.60

$1.90 RON 8.58

-11.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.18

$3.27 RON 14.78

-31.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 RON 11.61

$4.09 RON 18.50

-37.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 RON 5.35

$1.67 RON 7.52

-29.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 RON 5.66

$1.43 RON 6.44

-12.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 RON 7.94

$2.15 RON 9.71

-18.14%

Eggs

$2.83 RON 12.78

$3.52 RON 15.90

-19.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 RON 33.22

$8.72 RON 39.39

-15.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 RON 22.54

$6.48 RON 29.25

-22.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.88 RON 49.13

$10.28 RON 46.44

5.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.78 RON 8.02

$1.40 RON 6.34

27.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 RON 8.28

$1.63 RON 7.38

12.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 RON 8.15

$1.74 RON 7.84

3.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 RON 6.77

$2.26 RON 10.21

-33.63%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 RON 3.74

$0.92 RON 4.15

-9.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.11

$0.94 RON 4.26

-3.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$1.16 RON 5.22

11.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 RON 3.70

$1.01 RON 4.58

-18.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 RON 27.23

$6.60 RON 29.82

-8.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.95 RON 26.89

$6.60 RON 29.80

-9.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 RON 5.66

$1.40 RON 6.34

-10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 RON 8.15

$2.21 RON 9.96

-18.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 RON 4.40

$0.89 RON 4.04

8.99%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.73 RON 139

$28.55 RON 129

7.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 4.08

$0.85 RON 3.82

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 RON 4.90

$0.84 RON 3.79

29.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.23 RON 50.7

$8.92 RON 40.30

25.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 RON 8.24

$1.84 RON 8.29

-1.09%

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

$28.4K RON 128.5K

$30.1K RON 135.9K

-5.46%

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

$26.0K RON 117.7K

$29.1K RON 131.5K

-10.54%

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

$132 RON 594

$192 RON 867

-31.49%

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

$8.77 RON 39.60

$7.81 RON 35.27

12.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.61 RON 34.39

$8.94 RON 40.36

-14.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.43 RON 165

$46.28 RON 209

-21.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.75 RON 152

$16.61 RON 75.0

103.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.39 RON 24.35

$9.05 RON 40.88

-40.44%

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

$167 RON 753

$421 RON 1,903

-60.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,022 RON 18.2K

$7,347 RON 33.2K

-45.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.82 RON 202

$75.5 RON 341

-40.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.22 RON 100

$40.56 RON 183

-45.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.2 RON 330

$95.7 RON 432

-23.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 RON 346

$95.8 RON 433

-19.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 RON 1,579

$556 RON 2,510

-37.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 RON 1,061

$441 RON 1,990

-46.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 RON 2,513

$916 RON 4,136

-39.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,969

$698 RON 3,153

-37.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,516 RON 6,845

$2,963 RON 13.4K

-48.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,092 RON 4,930

$1,991 RON 8,995

-45.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$956 RON 4,320

$1,164 RON 5,257

-17.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.35

7.18

2.37%

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

Last update for Arad: September 1, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Arad versus $556 in Iasi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in Iasi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $224 – making Arad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arad vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iasi costs about 40% more than Arad, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,394 per month in Arad and $1,958 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad and $44.00 in Iasi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $929 in Arad and $1,305 in Iasi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Arad, where all-in costs run around $929, than in Iasi at $1,305. In Arad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arad costs $929 versus $1,305 in Iasi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Arad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.