πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $894 in Baia Mare versus $1,139 in Timisoara.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,405 in Baia Mare versus $1,784 in Timisoara.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,917 in Baia Mare versus $2,429 in Timisoara.
πLiving in Baia Mare costs roughly 22% less than in Timisoara, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Baia Mare33% lower, Timisoara15% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40RONΒ 40.91
$9.41RONΒ 40.93
-0.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.34RONΒ 162
$57.8RONΒ 251
-35.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.80RONΒ 29.56
$7.95RONΒ 34.56
-14.47%
Cappuccino
$2.12RONΒ 9.22
$3.29RONΒ 14.30
-35.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72RONΒ 7.50
$2.28RONΒ 9.91
-24.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29RONΒ 5.59
$1.91RONΒ 8.33
-32.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60RONΒ 6.95
$2.82RONΒ 12.28
-43.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22RONΒ 9.65
$3.42RONΒ 14.88
-35.09%
π Groceries & Markets
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52RONΒ 6.61
$1.53RONΒ 6.65
-0.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RONΒ 5.31
$1.27RONΒ 5.52
-3.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58RONΒ 6.88
$1.48RONΒ 6.45
6.76%
Eggs
$3.35RONΒ 14.59
$3.24RONΒ 14.10
3.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.64RONΒ 33.21
$9.37RONΒ 40.74
-18.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.98RONΒ 26.02
$6.59RONΒ 28.65
-9.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.87RONΒ 38.59
$11.37RONΒ 49.46
-21.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22RONΒ 5.32
$1.09RONΒ 4.76
11.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53RONΒ 6.65
$1.58RONΒ 6.85
-3.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72RONΒ 7.49
$1.53RONΒ 6.67
12.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16RONΒ 9.38
$2.57RONΒ 11.20
-15.95%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78RONΒ 3.38
$0.72RONΒ 3.13
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88RONΒ 3.83
$0.99RONΒ 4.29
-11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05RONΒ 4.57
$0.68RONΒ 2.94
54.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RONΒ 3.49
$0.74RONΒ 3.21
8.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17RONΒ 22.51
$6.06RONΒ 26.37
-14.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.94RONΒ 21.50
$8.24RONΒ 35.85
-40.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RONΒ 4.52
$1.25RONΒ 5.44
-16.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84RONΒ 8.01
$1.75RONΒ 7.60
5.14%
π Getting Around
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RONΒ 2.93
$0.93RONΒ 4.06
-27.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.29RONΒ 70.9
$30.19RONΒ 131
-46.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76RONΒ 3.31
$0.88RONΒ 3.84
-13.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81RONΒ 3.52
$0.79RONΒ 3.46
2.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.07RONΒ 39.45
$7.43RONΒ 32.32
22.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53RONΒ 6.64
$1.59RONΒ 6.91
-3.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRONΒ 123.8K
$27.8KRONΒ 120.8K
2.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRONΒ 116.0K
$25.9KRONΒ 112.7K
2.96%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116RONΒ 507
$140RONΒ 609
-16.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.84RONΒ 38.44
$8.68RONΒ 37.75
1.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.30RONΒ 49.15
$9.22RONΒ 40.10
22.56%
π Sport & Entertainment
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.8RONΒ 221
$43.11RONΒ 188
17.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.02RONΒ 91.5
$15.17RONΒ 66.0
38.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.87RONΒ 29.88
$8.03RONΒ 34.94
-14.45%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$424RONΒ 1,845
$502RONΒ 2,183
-15.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,879RONΒ 29.9K
$10.1KRONΒ 43.8K
-31.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8RONΒ 230
$78.6RONΒ 342
-32.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98RONΒ 165
$42.54RONΒ 185
-10.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.9RONΒ 304
$83.0RONΒ 361
-15.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.5RONΒ 407
$96.9RONΒ 422
-3.47%
π Accommodation & Living
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282RONΒ 1,227
$489RONΒ 2,126
-42.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$207RONΒ 899
$358RONΒ 1,557
-42.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535RONΒ 2,329
$740RONΒ 3,219
-27.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$412RONΒ 1,793
$594RONΒ 2,585
-30.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,374RONΒ 10.3K
$2,664RONΒ 11.6K
-10.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,632RONΒ 7,098
$1,982RONΒ 8,622
-17.67%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$906RONΒ 3,940
$1,276RONΒ 5,550
-29.00%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Timisoara: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Baia Mare and $489 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: $37.00 in Baia Mare vs $58.0 in Timisoara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 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 28% 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: $282 in Baia Mare versus $489 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $424 in Baia Mare versus $502 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 11% 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 $894 in Baia Mare versus $1,139 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 28% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.