🙂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: Brasilia30% lower, Alba Iulia30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.61R$44.15
$8.77RON 39.61
-1.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.06R$200
$33.62RON 152
16.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.00R$41.00
$6.11RON 27.57
30.93%
Cappuccino
$2.55R$13.05
$2.38RON 10.74
7.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45R$7.44
$1.81RON 8.17
-19.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96R$4.95
$1.51RON 6.83
-36.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26R$11.58
$2.07RON 9.34
9.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89R$19.95
$2.23RON 10.06
74.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.47
$1.30RON 5.88
-17.69%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04R$10.45
$1.21RON 5.48
68.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R$6.45
$1.52RON 6.88
-17.11%
Eggs
$2.44R$12.52
$2.87RON 12.95
-14.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06R$61.8
$8.20RON 37.04
47.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06R$20.82
$6.46RON 29.19
-37.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24R$42.26
$11.33RON 51.2
-27.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34R$12.02
$0.99RON 4.45
136.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42R$7.28
$1.37RON 6.21
3.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27R$6.52
$1.37RON 6.17
-7.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.48
$2.40RON 10.82
-31.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16R$5.93
$0.74RON 3.35
56.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.01R$5.18
$0.63RON 2.83
60.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83R$4.26
$0.90RON 4.07
-7.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98R$5.00
$0.67RON 3.03
46.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39R$12.23
$5.67RON 25.58
-57.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.99R$40.96
$4.45RON 20.11
79.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30R$6.67
$1.18RON 5.33
10.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40R$12.28
$1.35RON 6.09
77.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.69
$0.80RON 3.60
15.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15R$180
$17.49RON 79.0
100.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05R$5.39
$0.67RON 3.00
56.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85R$4.38
$0.70RON 3.15
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97R$30.59
$4.78RON 21.59
24.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R$6.56
$1.64RON 7.42
-21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KR$116.0K
$29.6KRON 133.7K
-23.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$164.5K
$25.3KRON 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)
$91.1R$467
$131RON 591
-30.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.43R$63.7
$7.84RON 35.38
58.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55R$116
$9.42RON 42.53
139.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.51R$161
$30.99RON 140
1.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35R$135
$32.48RON 147
-18.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86R$40.27
$5.37RON 24.24
46.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813R$4,168
$472RON 2,129
72.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3KR$83.6K
$7,101RON 32.1K
129.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.2R$268
$40.19RON 181
29.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.67R$224
$24.56RON 111
77.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7R$424
$79.1RON 357
4.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5R$443
$66.9RON 302
29.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500R$2,564
$312RON 1,406
60.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266R$1,364
$295RON 1,333
-9.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133R$5,807
$633RON 2,859
78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$562R$2,879
$495RON 2,237
13.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,411R$12.4K
$1,673RON 7,554
44.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,705R$8,739
$1,454RON 6,563
17.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Alba Iulia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$876R$4,489
$961RON 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.