🙂A single person spends $897 per month in Bacau vs $1,114 in Timisoara, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,455 per month in Bacau vs $1,754 in Timisoara, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,013 per month in Bacau vs $2,393 in Timisoara, rent included.
🙂Bacau is about 20% cheaper than Timisoara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Bacau and Timisoara are more affordable than the global median – Bacau33% lower, Timisoara16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.66RON 52.5
$9.04RON 40.73
28.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.21RON 204
$57.8RON 260
-21.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99RON 36.01
$7.90RON 35.58
1.14%
Cappuccino
$2.19RON 9.87
$3.22RON 14.48
-31.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15RON 9.67
$2.28RON 10.28
-5.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83RON 8.26
$1.98RON 8.93
-7.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33RON 10.48
$2.73RON 12.31
-14.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58RON 16.12
$3.38RON 15.24
5.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34RON 6.04
$1.52RON 6.87
-11.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83RON 3.75
$1.31RON 5.90
-36.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74RON 7.85
$1.44RON 6.46
20.83%
Eggs
$3.74RON 16.84
$3.20RON 14.40
16.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68RON 39.07
$9.26RON 41.70
-6.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19RON 27.87
$6.49RON 29.22
-4.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.18RON 41.33
$11.23RON 50.6
-18.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25RON 5.62
$1.08RON 4.87
15.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66RON 7.46
$1.48RON 6.68
12.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.70
$1.60RON 7.22
6.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.24
$2.56RON 11.51
-28.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.20
$0.73RON 3.27
27.40%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84RON 3.78
$0.98RON 4.42
-14.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67RON 3.02
$0.72RON 3.23
-6.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79RON 3.54
$0.74RON 3.33
6.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69RON 25.64
$5.96RON 26.84
-4.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.85RON 30.84
$7.90RON 35.60
-13.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.94
$1.20RON 5.42
-27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RON 6.02
$1.68RON 7.59
-20.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59RON 2.67
$0.94RON 4.23
-37.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.73RON 143
$29.86RON 134
6.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.62RON 2.80
$0.89RON 4.02
-30.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64RON 2.89
$0.83RON 3.75
-22.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.47RON 33.64
$7.51RON 33.84
-0.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59RON 7.15
$1.57RON 7.09
1.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 128.0K
$27.7KRON 124.6K
2.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 120.3K
$26.8KRON 120.9K
-0.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117RON 528
$139RON 627
-15.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.47RON 38.15
$8.24RON 37.09
2.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.33RON 24.00
$9.02RON 40.63
-40.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.18RON 113
$44.06RON 198
-42.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.11RON 104
$15.23RON 68.6
51.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.69RON 30.14
$8.09RON 36.45
-17.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$647RON 2,916
$503RON 2,264
28.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,368RON 24.2K
$10.3KRON 46.5K
-47.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.6RON 422
$78.5RON 353
19.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.72RON 161
$42.36RON 191
-15.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.9RON 288
$82.5RON 372
-22.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0RON 432
$97.1RON 437
-1.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$327RON 1,473
$483RON 2,177
-32.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183RON 825
$352RON 1,584
-47.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515RON 2,317
$727RON 3,272
-29.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362RON 1,632
$597RON 2,688
-39.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,912RON 8,610
$2,642RON 11.9K
-27.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,261RON 5,681
$2,003RON 9,021
-37.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacau
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,007RON 4,535
$1,237RON 5,573
-18.62%
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: June 16, 2026
Last update for Timisoara: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $327 in Bacau versus $483 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 23% 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 $45.00 in Bacau versus $58.0 in Timisoara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $215 – 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 24%, 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 $1,345 per month in Bacau and $1,671 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 $45.00 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 $897 in Bacau and $1,114 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 $897, than in Timisoara at $1,114. 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.