πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $887 in Baia Mare versus $1,122 in Timisoara.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,427 in Baia Mare versus $1,773 in Timisoara.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,967 in Baia Mare versus $2,424 in Timisoara.
πLiving in Baia Mare costs roughly 21% less than in Timisoara, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Baia Mare34% lower, Timisoara17% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.11RONΒ 41.20
$9.05RONΒ 40.96
0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.19RONΒ 164
$58.5RONΒ 265
-38.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09RONΒ 32.09
$8.28RONΒ 37.47
-14.37%
Cappuccino
$2.21RONΒ 10.01
$3.28RONΒ 14.82
-32.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RONΒ 8.09
$2.26RONΒ 10.21
-20.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34RONΒ 6.05
$2.03RONΒ 9.17
-33.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57RONΒ 7.09
$2.83RONΒ 12.78
-44.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23RONΒ 10.07
$3.40RONΒ 15.39
-34.41%
π Groceries & Markets
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44RONΒ 6.51
$1.52RONΒ 6.86
-5.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23RONΒ 5.55
$1.31RONΒ 5.91
-6.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54RONΒ 6.99
$1.48RONΒ 6.70
4.05%
Eggs
$3.25RONΒ 14.69
$3.25RONΒ 14.70
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.59RONΒ 34.33
$9.63RONΒ 43.56
-21.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.15RONΒ 27.83
$6.64RONΒ 30.02
-7.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.00RONΒ 40.73
$11.57RONΒ 52.3
-22.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RONΒ 5.32
$1.09RONΒ 4.92
8.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52RONΒ 6.89
$1.55RONΒ 7.03
-1.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74RONΒ 7.87
$1.61RONΒ 7.30
8.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21RONΒ 9.99
$2.45RONΒ 11.10
-9.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76RONΒ 3.43
$0.73RONΒ 3.30
4.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.87RONΒ 3.94
$1.02RONΒ 4.59
-14.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01RONΒ 4.57
$0.73RONΒ 3.30
38.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79RONΒ 3.56
$0.73RONΒ 3.30
8.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43RONΒ 24.55
$5.76RONΒ 26.06
-5.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.90RONΒ 22.15
$7.79RONΒ 35.23
-37.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03RONΒ 4.68
$1.20RONΒ 5.41
-14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77RONΒ 8.02
$1.68RONΒ 7.61
5.36%
π Getting Around
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RONΒ 3.03
$0.90RONΒ 4.08
-25.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.35RONΒ 73.9
$29.98RONΒ 136
-45.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76RONΒ 3.43
$0.90RONΒ 4.07
-15.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80RONΒ 3.64
$0.85RONΒ 3.83
-5.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.04RONΒ 40.89
$7.35RONΒ 33.25
22.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51RONΒ 6.83
$1.64RONΒ 7.42
-7.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KRONΒ 129.2K
$27.9KRONΒ 126.3K
2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KRONΒ 117.5K
$26.0KRONΒ 117.8K
-0.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117RONΒ 530
$140RONΒ 631
-16.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.37RONΒ 37.88
$8.54RONΒ 38.62
-1.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.17RONΒ 50.5
$9.01RONΒ 40.78
23.97%
π Sport & Entertainment
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.3RONΒ 232
$43.38RONΒ 196
18.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.91RONΒ 94.6
$15.02RONΒ 68.0
39.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.71RONΒ 30.34
$8.29RONΒ 37.49
-19.06%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431RONΒ 1,952
$506RONΒ 2,287
-14.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,838RONΒ 30.9K
$10.1KRONΒ 45.8K
-32.50%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0RONΒ 240
$76.7RONΒ 347
-30.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.92RONΒ 176
$42.61RONΒ 193
-8.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.4RONΒ 318
$82.5RONΒ 373
-14.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.2RONΒ 422
$96.5RONΒ 436
-3.40%
π Accommodation & Living
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$287RONΒ 1,296
$497RONΒ 2,247
-42.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$210RONΒ 951
$360RONΒ 1,629
-41.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$536RONΒ 2,426
$729RONΒ 3,299
-26.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400RONΒ 1,809
$586RONΒ 2,650
-31.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,362RONΒ 10.7K
$2,722RONΒ 12.3K
-13.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,555RONΒ 7,033
$2,009RONΒ 9,086
-22.59%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$871RONΒ 3,940
$1,228RONΒ 5,554
-29.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
6.66
-2.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baia Mare: June 7, 2026
Last update for Timisoara: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $287 in Baia Mare and $497 in Timisoara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Timisoara pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $36.00 in Baia Mare vs $58.0 in Timisoara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $218 per month, with Baia Mare cheaper across the board.
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
Baia Mare vs Timisoara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Timisoara cheaper than Baia Mare?
Baia Mare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Baia Mare or Timisoara?
On paper, Timisoara earns 41% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Baia Mare and Timisoara?
Rent for a central apartment: $287 in Baia Mare versus $497 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $431 in Baia Mare versus $506 in Timisoara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Baia Mare and Timisoara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Timisoara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Baia Mare or Timisoara?
At $887 in Baia Mare versus $1,122 in Timisoara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baia Mare but tight or insufficient in Timisoara. The gap between the two cities makes Baia Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Baia Mare or Timisoara more family-friendly?
For families, Baia Mare is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Timisoara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Baia Mare or Timisoara?
Safety-wise, Baia Mare and Timisoara 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Baia Mare gentler on the wallet β expenses run 27% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.