Cost of Living Comparison Between Bistrita and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Bistrita and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $914 per month in Bistrita vs $1,157 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,431 per month in Bistrita vs $1,741 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,949 per month in Bistrita vs $2,326 in Iasi, rent included.

Bistrita is about 21% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bistrita and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Bistrita 32% lower, Iasi 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.50 RON 32.61

$10.20 RON 44.35

-26.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.88 RON 200

$51.7 RON 225

-11.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 RON 30.51

$7.08 RON 30.80

-0.99%

Cappuccino

$2.71 RON 11.78

$2.59 RON 11.28

4.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 RON 6.48

$2.09 RON 9.08

-28.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 RON 6.12

$1.76 RON 7.66

-19.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.78 RON 12.09

$2.47 RON 10.74

12.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 RON 11.95

$3.50 RON 15.22

-21.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 RON 6.26

$1.38 RON 6.01

4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.29

$1.26 RON 5.47

-3.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 RON 5.11

$1.79 RON 7.79

-34.64%

Eggs

$3.28 RON 14.26

$3.11 RON 13.54

5.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.87 RON 29.87

$8.11 RON 35.29

-15.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.04 RON 26.29

$6.78 RON 29.50

-10.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.96 RON 38.98

$11.07 RON 48.15

-19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 RON 5.08

$1.17 RON 5.11

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 RON 6.93

$1.63 RON 7.10

-2.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 RON 7.20

$1.81 RON 7.87

-8.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 RON 9.34

$1.92 RON 8.33

11.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.55

$1.00 RON 4.37

-18.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 RON 3.08

$1.02 RON 4.44

-30.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 RON 4.59

$1.00 RON 4.37

6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 RON 3.86

$0.88 RON 3.81

1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 RON 22.91

$6.30 RON 27.41

-16.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.04 RON 30.65

$6.92 RON 30.12

1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 RON 4.35

$1.10 RON 4.78

-9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 4.93

$1.93 RON 8.38

-41.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 1.95

$0.77 RON 3.37

-41.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.99 RON 100

$27.83 RON 121

-17.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 RON 2.82

$0.90 RON 3.90

-27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.67

$0.74 RON 3.24

-17.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 RON 29.29

$8.12 RON 35.31

-17.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 RON 6.59

$1.67 RON 7.24

-9.58%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.4K RON 123.4K

$27.7K RON 120.6K

2.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K RON 113.4K

$27.6K RON 120.1K

-5.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$139 RON 604

$155 RON 675

-10.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.13 RON 35.38

$8.32 RON 36.19

-2.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.77 RON 29.47

$10.07 RON 43.82

-32.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.67 RON 203

$46.91 RON 204

-0.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.16 RON 149

$18.61 RON 80.9

83.56%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 RON 30.89

$8.12 RON 35.31

-12.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$433 RON 1,882

$462 RON 2,012

-6.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,893 RON 30.0K

$6,992 RON 30.4K

-1.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 RON 299

$62.7 RON 273

9.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.10 RON 153

$42.85 RON 186

-18.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 RON 296

$83.6 RON 364

-18.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.2 RON 401

$89.0 RON 387

3.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$240 RON 1,043

$467 RON 2,031

-48.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 RON 872

$354 RON 1,541

-43.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$422 RON 1,837

$722 RON 3,142

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 RON 1,446

$551 RON 2,398

-39.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,578 RON 6,864

$2,903 RON 12.6K

-45.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,263 RON 5,494

$1,842 RON 8,015

-31.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,097 RON 4,774

$1,134 RON 4,931

-3.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

7.37

-11.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bistrita: April 26, 2026

Last update for Iasi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Bistrita versus $467 in Iasi. 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 3% higher in Iasi, 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 $46.00 in Bistrita versus $52.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $213 – making Bistrita 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

Bistrita vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iasi costs about 27% more than Bistrita, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,371 per month in Bistrita and $1,735 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bistrita, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Iasi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Bistrita and $52.0 in Iasi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bistrita, where all-in costs run around $914, than in Iasi at $1,157. In Bistrita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bistrita costs $914 versus $1,157 in Iasi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bistrita. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.