Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacau and Timisoara Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacau and Timisoara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $886 per month in Bacau vs $1,139 in Timisoara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,475 per month in Bacau vs $1,784 in Timisoara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,063 per month in Bacau vs $2,429 in Timisoara, rent included.

Bacau is about 22% cheaper than Timisoara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bacau and Timisoara are more affordable than the global median – Bacau 34% lower, Timisoara 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62 RON 50.7
$9.41 RON 41.02
23.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.60 RON 203
$57.8 RON 252
-19.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.13 RON 35.44
$7.95 RON 34.64
2.26%
Cappuccino
$2.27 RON 9.91
$3.29 RON 14.33
-31.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 RON 9.31
$2.28 RON 9.94
-6.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 RON 7.94
$1.91 RON 8.35
-4.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 RON 9.93
$2.82 RON 12.31
-19.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 RON 15.41
$3.42 RON 14.92
3.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RON 6.03
$1.53 RON 6.67
-9.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 RON 3.71
$1.27 RON 5.54
-33.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.45
$1.48 RON 6.47
15.54%
Eggs
$3.66 RON 15.96
$3.24 RON 14.13
12.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.60 RON 37.49
$9.37 RON 40.83
-8.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.43 RON 28.02
$6.59 RON 28.72
-2.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.15 RON 39.91
$11.37 RON 49.57
-19.53%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 RON 5.31
$1.09 RON 4.77
11.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.07
$1.58 RON 6.87
2.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 RON 7.31
$1.53 RON 6.68
9.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 RON 8.01
$2.57 RON 11.22
-28.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.18
$0.72 RON 3.14
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 RON 3.89
$0.99 RON 4.30
-10.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 RON 3.15
$0.68 RON 2.95
5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RON 3.46
$0.74 RON 3.22
6.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.86 RON 25.56
$6.06 RON 26.43
-3.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 RON 30.64
$8.24 RON 35.94
-14.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RON 4.09
$1.25 RON 5.45
-24.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 RON 5.59
$1.75 RON 7.61
-26.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 RON 2.81
$0.93 RON 4.07
-30.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.34 RON 141
$30.19 RON 132
7.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 RON 2.73
$0.88 RON 3.85
-28.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 RON 2.84
$0.79 RON 3.46
-17.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.44 RON 32.45
$7.43 RON 32.39
0.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 6.66
$1.59 RON 6.93
-3.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K RON 123.9K
$27.8K RON 121.1K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RON 114.4K
$25.9K RON 112.9K
1.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 RON 499
$140 RON 611
-18.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.38 RON 36.55
$8.68 RON 37.84
-3.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.07 RON 22.12
$9.22 RON 40.19
-45.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.14 RON 110
$43.11 RON 188
-41.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.01 RON 100
$15.17 RON 66.2
51.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 RON 28.30
$8.03 RON 35.02
-19.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$643 RON 2,805
$502 RON 2,188
28.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,453 RON 23.8K
$10.1K RON 43.9K
-45.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0 RON 405
$78.6 RON 342
18.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.45 RON 150
$42.54 RON 185
-19.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.4 RON 272
$83.0 RON 362
-24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.9 RON 418
$96.9 RON 422
-1.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$326 RON 1,423
$489 RON 2,131
-33.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 RON 794
$358 RON 1,560
-49.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$502 RON 2,190
$740 RON 3,226
-32.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 RON 1,575
$594 RON 2,591
-39.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,930 RON 8,416
$2,664 RON 11.6K
-27.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,279 RON 5,578
$1,982 RON 8,641
-35.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 RON 4,620
$1,276 RON 5,562
-16.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
6.66
-2.40%

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

Last update for Bacau: April 25, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Bacau versus $489 in Timisoara. 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 20% higher in Timisoara, 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 $47.00 in Bacau versus $58.0 in Timisoara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $218 – making Bacau 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
Bacau vs Timisoara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Timisoara cheaper than Bacau?
Yes – Timisoara is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,329 per month in Bacau and $1,709 in Timisoara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Bacau or Timisoara?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Bacau and $58.0 in Timisoara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Bacau vs Timisoara?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $886 in Bacau and $1,139 in Timisoara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bacau or Timisoara?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacau, where all-in costs run around $886, than in Timisoara at $1,139. In Bacau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Timisoara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bacau or Timisoara more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bacau or Timisoara?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bacau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Timisoara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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