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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Bacau 33% lower, Timisoara 16% lower.

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

Bacau vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities