Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Alba Iulia Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Alba Iulia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $957 in Brasilia versus $966 in Alba Iulia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Brasilia versus $1,474 in Alba Iulia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,176 in Brasilia versus $1,981 in Alba Iulia.

Living in Brasilia costs roughly 1% less than in Alba Iulia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 30% lower, Alba Iulia 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.61 R$44.15
$8.77 RON 39.61
-1.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.06 R$200
$33.62 RON 152
16.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 R$41.00
$6.11 RON 27.57
30.93%
Cappuccino
$2.55 R$13.05
$2.38 RON 10.74
7.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 R$7.44
$1.81 RON 8.17
-19.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$4.95
$1.51 RON 6.83
-36.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.26 R$11.58
$2.07 RON 9.34
9.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 R$19.95
$2.23 RON 10.06
74.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 R$5.47
$1.30 RON 5.88
-17.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 R$10.45
$1.21 RON 5.48
68.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.45
$1.52 RON 6.88
-17.11%
Eggs
$2.44 R$12.52
$2.87 RON 12.95
-14.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.06 R$61.8
$8.20 RON 37.04
47.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 R$20.82
$6.46 RON 29.19
-37.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.24 R$42.26
$11.33 RON 51.2
-27.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 R$12.02
$0.99 RON 4.45
136.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.42 R$7.28
$1.37 RON 6.21
3.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.52
$1.37 RON 6.17
-7.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 R$8.48
$2.40 RON 10.82
-31.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.93
$0.74 RON 3.35
56.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 R$5.18
$0.63 RON 2.83
60.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 R$4.26
$0.90 RON 4.07
-7.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 R$5.00
$0.67 RON 3.03
46.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39 R$12.23
$5.67 RON 25.58
-57.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.99 R$40.96
$4.45 RON 20.11
79.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 R$6.67
$1.18 RON 5.33
10.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 R$12.28
$1.35 RON 6.09
77.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 R$4.69
$0.80 RON 3.60
15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 R$180
$17.49 RON 79.0
100.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 R$5.39
$0.67 RON 3.00
56.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 R$4.38
$0.70 RON 3.15
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 R$30.59
$4.78 RON 21.59
24.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 R$6.56
$1.64 RON 7.42
-21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K R$116.0K
$29.6K RON 133.7K
-23.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K R$164.5K
$25.3K RON 114.4K
26.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.1 R$467
$131 RON 591
-30.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43 R$63.7
$7.84 RON 35.38
58.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55 R$116
$9.42 RON 42.53
139.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.51 R$161
$30.99 RON 140
1.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35 R$135
$32.48 RON 147
-18.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86 R$40.27
$5.37 RON 24.24
46.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 R$4,168
$472 RON 2,129
72.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.3K R$83.6K
$7,101 RON 32.1K
129.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2 R$268
$40.19 RON 181
29.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.67 R$224
$24.56 RON 111
77.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 R$424
$79.1 RON 357
4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 R$443
$66.9 RON 302
29.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 R$2,564
$312 RON 1,406
60.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 R$1,364
$295 RON 1,333
-9.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,133 R$5,807
$633 RON 2,859
78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 R$2,879
$495 RON 2,237
13.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,411 R$12.4K
$1,673 RON 7,554
44.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,705 R$8,739
$1,454 RON 6,563
17.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 R$4,489
$961 RON 4,337
-8.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.8
6.97
69.30%

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

Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026

Last update for Alba Iulia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Brasilia and $312 in Alba Iulia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alba Iulia pays 10% 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: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $34.00 in Alba Iulia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $197 per month, with Alba Iulia 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
Brasilia vs Alba Iulia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Alba Iulia?
Brasilia and Alba Iulia differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($957 vs $966 including rent). Brasilia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Where can you earn more: Brasilia or Alba Iulia?
On paper, salaries run 10% lower in Alba Iulia. 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 Brasilia and Alba Iulia?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Brasilia versus $312 in Alba Iulia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Brasilia and in Alba Iulia?
All in, you'll spend $957 per month in Brasilia versus $966 in Alba Iulia – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Brasilia runs roughly 101% less than in Alba Iulia. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Brasilia or in Alba Iulia?
At $957 in Brasilia versus $966 in Alba Iulia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Brasilia but tight or insufficient in Alba Iulia. The gap between the two cities makes Brasilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brasilia or Alba Iulia more family-friendly?
For families, Brasilia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Alba Iulia, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Brasilia or Alba Iulia?
Safety-wise, Brasilia and Alba Iulia 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 Brasilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Alba Iulia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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