🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Baia Mare versus $1,184 in Timisoara.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,448 in Baia Mare versus $1,820 in Timisoara.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,972 in Baia Mare versus $2,455 in Timisoara.
🌍Living in Baia Mare costs roughly 22% less than in Timisoara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Baia Mare32% lower, Timisoara13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.10RON 60.0
$10.78RON 49.40
21.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.03RON 156
$48.57RON 222
-29.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.91RON 40.83
$8.57RON 39.27
3.97%
Cappuccino
$2.19RON 10.03
$3.05RON 13.96
-28.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90RON 8.69
$2.29RON 10.47
-17.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44RON 6.61
$1.78RON 8.15
-19.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62RON 7.44
$2.62RON 12.01
-38.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23RON 10.24
$4.52RON 20.72
-50.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59RON 7.28
$1.47RON 6.74
8.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46RON 6.70
$1.26RON 5.78
15.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.20
$1.45RON 6.63
8.28%
Eggs
$2.90RON 13.29
$3.08RON 14.09
-5.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.52RON 29.87
$8.76RON 40.13
-25.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.17RON 32.87
$6.40RON 29.32
12.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.17RON 51.2
$11.67RON 53.5
-4.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19RON 5.44
$1.23RON 5.65
-3.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.41
$1.58RON 7.25
2.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44RON 6.59
$1.53RON 7.01
-5.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80RON 12.84
$2.44RON 11.17
14.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04RON 4.76
$0.76RON 3.50
36.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16RON 5.33
$1.02RON 4.68
13.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12RON 5.14
$0.73RON 3.37
53.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81RON 3.70
$0.78RON 3.56
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.74RON 30.90
$6.69RON 30.66
0.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.89RON 22.41
$7.60RON 34.80
-35.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09RON 4.98
$1.24RON 5.69
-12.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66RON 7.62
$1.80RON 8.23
-7.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68RON 3.10
$1.08RON 4.94
-37.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.55RON 71.3
$35.39RON 162
-56.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79RON 3.60
$0.85RON 3.91
-7.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.93
$0.89RON 4.09
-3.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.12RON 28.02
$8.82RON 40.42
-30.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73RON 7.91
$1.92RON 8.78
-9.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KRON 136.6K
$29.3KRON 134.3K
1.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRON 117.0K
$25.6KRON 117.3K
-0.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111RON 509
$176RON 808
-36.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.04RON 73.5
$6.85RON 31.38
134.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.25RON 56.1
$9.14RON 41.85
34.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.14RON 184
$41.11RON 188
-2.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.00RON 77.9
$16.53RON 75.7
2.84%
Cinema Ticket
$10.26RON 47.02
$8.40RON 38.48
22.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557RON 2,553
$613RON 2,807
-9.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,636RON 25.8K
$9,005RON 41.3K
-37.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.53RON 177
$76.9RON 352
-49.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.63RON 200
$42.26RON 194
3.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7RON 296
$79.9RON 366
-19.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7RON 356
$95.2RON 436
-18.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283RON 1,298
$564RON 2,583
-49.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$216RON 990
$378RON 1,733
-42.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508RON 2,325
$871RON 3,989
-41.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386RON 1,766
$635RON 2,909
-39.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,083RON 9,540
$2,565RON 11.8K
-18.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,494RON 6,842
$1,911RON 8,755
-21.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baia Mare
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$909RON 4,162
$1,192RON 5,462
-23.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.48
6.88
8.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baia Mare: September 15, 2026
Last update for Timisoara: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Baia Mare and $564 in Timisoara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Timisoara pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Baia Mare vs $49.00 in Timisoara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $214 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, salaries run 31% lower in Timisoara. 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: $283 in Baia Mare versus $564 in Timisoara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Baia Mare versus $613 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 in Timisoara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Timisoara. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Baia Mare or in Timisoara?
At $924 in Baia Mare versus $1,184 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 – expenses run 28% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.