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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Bistrita vs $1,275 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Bistrita vs $1,920 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Bistrita vs $2,564 in Iasi, rent included.

Bistrita is about 30% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bistrita and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Bistrita 35% lower, Iasi 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 RON 30.08

$11.03 RON 50.6

-40.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.23 RON 152

$43.78 RON 201

-24.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 RON 31.10

$7.58 RON 34.78

-10.55%

Cappuccino

$2.23 RON 10.23

$3.09 RON 14.18

-27.83%

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

$1.74 RON 7.99

$2.12 RON 9.72

-17.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 RON 6.88

$1.83 RON 8.38

-18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 RON 10.01

$3.32 RON 15.21

-34.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 RON 15.29

$3.86 RON 17.71

-13.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 RON 5.94

$1.60 RON 7.32

-19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 RON 5.05

$1.41 RON 6.45

-21.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 RON 5.13

$2.11 RON 9.69

-46.92%

Eggs

$2.70 RON 12.38

$3.46 RON 15.88

-21.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.72 RON 30.82

$8.31 RON 38.11

-19.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 RON 30.04

$6.37 RON 29.21

2.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.64 RON 53.4

$10.13 RON 46.48

14.91%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 RON 4.06

$1.39 RON 6.36

-36.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.27

$1.69 RON 7.77

-6.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 RON 7.42

$1.73 RON 7.92

-6.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 RON 9.79

$2.25 RON 10.33

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 RON 4.01

$0.88 RON 4.02

-1.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.89

$0.94 RON 4.33

-32.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 RON 4.97

$1.22 RON 5.59

-11.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RON 3.11

$1.04 RON 4.75

-34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 RON 26.18

$6.47 RON 29.69

-11.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 RON 25.15

$6.46 RON 29.63

-15.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.47

$1.40 RON 6.45

-30.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.07 RON 4.91

$2.14 RON 9.82

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 RON 1.96

$0.86 RON 3.95

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.66 RON 99.4

$28.18 RON 129

-23.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 RON 3.66

$0.87 RON 3.98

-8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 RON 3.43

$0.91 RON 4.16

-17.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.78 RON 35.72

$8.88 RON 40.73

-12.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 RON 7.04

$1.84 RON 8.44

-16.85%

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

$28.2K RON 129.4K

$29.5K RON 135.5K

-4.46%

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

$25.1K RON 115.3K

$28.1K RON 128.8K

-10.51%

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

$181 RON 832

$191 RON 875

-4.93%

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

$6.03 RON 27.65

$7.41 RON 33.98

-18.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.08 RON 27.90

$8.89 RON 40.78

-31.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.48 RON 190

$46.83 RON 215

-11.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.33 RON 153

$16.46 RON 75.5

102.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 RON 29.99

$8.56 RON 39.28

-23.60%

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

$332 RON 1,522

$416 RON 1,907

-20.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,380 RON 43.0K

$7,400 RON 34.0K

26.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.17 RON 184

$77.4 RON 355

-48.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.25 RON 125

$40.07 RON 184

-31.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 RON 298

$96.0 RON 441

-32.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 RON 360

$94.7 RON 434

-17.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$230 RON 1,054

$555 RON 2,545

-58.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 RON 887

$449 RON 2,062

-56.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$407 RON 1,868

$926 RON 4,247

-56.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 RON 1,513

$692 RON 3,175

-52.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,565 RON 7,182

$2,950 RON 13.5K

-46.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,213 RON 5,566

$1,976 RON 9,065

-38.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,048 RON 4,807

$1,152 RON 5,284

-9.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.73

7.18

-6.27%

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

Last update for Bistrita: September 13, 2026

Last update for Iasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $230 in Bistrita versus $555 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 10% 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 $33.00 in Bistrita versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $221 – 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 44% 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 $1,333 per month in Bistrita and $1,913 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 15% 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 $33.00 in Bistrita and $44.00 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 $888, than in Iasi at $1,275. 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 $888 versus $1,275 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.