Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacau and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacau: $913 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bacau
🇷🇴 Romania
$913
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bacau and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bacau and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $913 in Bacau versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Bacau $913
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Bacau versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Bacau $1,548
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,182 in Bacau versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Bacau $2,182
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Bacau costs roughly 66% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bacau is 32% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.05 RON 66.5
$20.77 $20.77
-32.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.1 RON 402
$84.6 $84.6
0.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 RON 34.96
$12.32 $12.32
-40.02%
Cappuccino
$1.98 RON 9.37
$5.63 $5.63
-64.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 RON 9.16
$3.72 $3.72
-47.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 RON 8.97
$2.50 $2.50
-24.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 RON 11.75
$8.05 $8.05
-69.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 RON 14.96
$9.01 $9.01
-64.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 RON 5.76
$1.12 $1.12
8.93%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 RON 3.09
$3.75 $3.75
-82.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 RON 7.74
$3.26 $3.26
-49.69%
Eggs
$3.39 RON 16.03
$4.17 $4.17
-18.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.79 RON 36.87
$12.90 $12.90
-39.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.43 RON 25.67
$14.16 $14.16
-61.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.42 RON 39.86
$16.22 $16.22
-48.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 RON 5.41
$4.33 $4.33
-73.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 RON 7.06
$1.46 $1.46
2.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 RON 7.32
$4.51 $4.51
-65.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 RON 8.24
$4.34 $4.34
-59.91%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 RON 3.43
$2.58 $2.58
-72.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 RON 3.07
$2.35 $2.35
-72.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 RON 3.59
$1.78 $1.78
-57.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 RON 3.23
$2.22 $2.22
-69.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 RON 25.87
$9.88 $9.88
-44.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.08 RON 24.02
$15.08 $15.08
-66.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RON 4.46
$2.92 $2.92
-67.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 RON 5.78
$3.46 $3.46
-64.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 RON 3.51
$1.49 $1.49
-50.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.14 RON 138
$41.72 $41.72
-30.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 RON 2.92
$2.73 $2.73
-77.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 RON 3.17
$1.66 $1.66
-59.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.08 RON 33.51
$35.30 $35.30
-79.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.80 RON 8.50
$0.95 $0.95
89.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K RON 136.6K
$36.0K $36.0K
-19.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K RON 117.9K
$27.1K $27.1K
-8.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 RON 502
$229 $229
-53.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.51 RON 35.53
$59.4 $59.4
-87.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$4.83 RON 22.86
$69.9 $69.9
-93.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.72 RON 122
$57.2 $57.2
-55.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.83 RON 74.9
$16.33 $16.33
-3.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.44 RON 30.45
$14.28 $14.28
-54.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$591 RON 2,794
$1,506 $1,506
-60.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,858 RON 23.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-77.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.9 RON 392
$52.8 $52.8
56.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.49 RON 149
$43.82 $43.82
-28.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.6 RON 282
$84.8 $84.8
-29.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6 RON 395
$103 $103
-18.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 RON 1,891
$1,907 $1,907
-79.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 RON 1,113
$1,274 $1,274
-81.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$546 RON 2,584
$3,664 $3,664
-85.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 RON 1,889
$2,538 $2,538
-84.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,818 RON 8,604
$7,614 $7,614
-76.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,199 RON 5,673
$3,157 $3,157
-62.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacau
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$933 RON 4,415
$5,121 $5,121
-81.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.97
6.79
2.65%

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

Last update for Bacau: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bacau
$235
Austin, TX
$1.3K 442% $1K
Eating Out
Bacau
$192
Austin, TX
$354 84% $162
Groceries & Markets
Bacau
$176
Austin, TX
$405 130% $228
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
$118
Austin, TX
$358 202% $240
Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
$116
Austin, TX
$128 10.4% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
$39
Austin, TX
$86 122% $47
Getting Around
Bacau
$36
Austin, TX
$59 62.7% $23

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $400 in Bacau and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 449% 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: $85.0 in Bacau vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $405 per month, with Bacau cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Bacau
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
22:52 10:52 PM
14:52 2:52 PM
8 h behind Bacau
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
144,307
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bacau Austin, TX 9,830 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bacau
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bacau vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bacau or Austin, TX?
Bacau wins on cost – living expenses run 192% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bacau the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bacau or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 449% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bacau compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $400 in Bacau versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bacau compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $913 per month in Bacau versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 192% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bacau compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Bacau runs roughly 43% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bacau or in Austin, TX?
At $913 in Bacau versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bacau but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Bacau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Bacau or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Bacau compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Bacau and Austin, TX 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 Bacau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 192% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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