Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Buzau and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Buzau versus $1,305 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,537 in Buzau versus $1,902 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,026 in Buzau versus $2,499 in Iasi.

Living in Buzau costs roughly 20% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buzau 24% lower, Iasi 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.18 RON 50.7
$11.00 RON 49.88
1.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.07 RON 118
$43.93 RON 199
-40.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.76 RON 30.65
$7.83 RON 35.52
-13.67%
Cappuccino
$2.14 RON 9.71
$2.97 RON 13.48
-27.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 RON 9.51
$2.21 RON 10.02
-4.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 RON 6.91
$1.90 RON 8.61
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 RON 7.98
$3.27 RON 14.84
-46.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 RON 8.11
$4.09 RON 18.57
-56.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 RON 8.03
$1.67 RON 7.56
5.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 RON 6.07
$1.43 RON 6.47
-6.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.88
$2.15 RON 9.75
-29.30%
Eggs
$3.22 RON 14.59
$3.52 RON 15.97
-8.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.69 RON 34.86
$8.72 RON 39.55
-11.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 RON 30.80
$6.48 RON 29.37
4.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.85 RON 53.7
$10.28 RON 46.63
15.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 RON 4.58
$1.40 RON 6.36
-27.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 RON 7.78
$1.63 RON 7.41
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 RON 5.23
$1.74 RON 7.88
-33.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 RON 5.68
$2.26 RON 10.25
-44.69%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 RON 3.05
$0.92 RON 4.17
-27.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.87 RON 3.97
$0.94 RON 4.27
-7.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 RON 2.20
$1.16 RON 5.25
-57.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 RON 3.32
$1.01 RON 4.60
-27.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.45 RON 29.24
$6.60 RON 29.94
-2.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.59 RON 29.89
$6.60 RON 29.93
-0.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 RON 3.92
$1.40 RON 6.37
-38.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 RON 6.61
$2.21 RON 10.01
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 RON 3.06
$0.89 RON 4.06
-23.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.45 RON 102
$28.55 RON 129
-21.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 RON 2.53
$0.85 RON 3.84
-34.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 RON 2.35
$0.84 RON 3.81
-38.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.65 RON 30.15
$8.92 RON 40.46
-25.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 RON 7.15
$1.84 RON 8.33
-14.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K RON 91.3K
$30.1K RON 136.4K
-33.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K RON 101.2K
$29.1K RON 132.1K
-23.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 RON 563
$192 RON 871
-35.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.09 RON 36.71
$7.81 RON 35.42
3.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.17 RON 37.05
$8.94 RON 40.53
-8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.19 RON 155
$46.28 RON 210
-26.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 RON 85.0
$16.61 RON 75.4
12.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.33 RON 33.24
$9.05 RON 41.04
-19.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$310 RON 1,406
$421 RON 1,911
-26.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,973 RON 31.6K
$7,347 RON 33.3K
-5.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 RON 267
$75.5 RON 343
-22.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4 RON 278
$40.56 RON 184
51.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 RON 466
$95.7 RON 434
7.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7 RON 393
$95.8 RON 434
-9.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 RON 1,690
$556 RON 2,521
-32.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 RON 1,413
$441 RON 1,998
-29.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$636 RON 2,884
$916 RON 4,153
-30.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$436 RON 1,975
$698 RON 3,166
-37.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,563 RON 7,087
$2,963 RON 13.4K
-47.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,255 RON 5,693
$1,991 RON 9,032
-36.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$900 RON 4,082
$1,164 RON 5,279
-22.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.97
7.18
-2.92%

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

Last update for Buzau: August 31, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $373 in Buzau and $556 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 29% 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: $26.00 in Buzau vs $44.00 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $224 per month, with Buzau 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
Buzau vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buzau and in Iasi?
Buzau and Iasi differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,049 vs $1,305 including rent). Buzau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 29% lower in Iasi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Buzau and in Iasi?
Rent for a central apartment: $373 in Buzau versus $556 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Iasi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Buzau – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $44.00 in Iasi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,049 in Buzau versus $1,305 in Iasi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buzau but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Buzau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buzau and Iasi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Buzau or Iasi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buzau and Iasi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buzau or Iasi?
Expats usually find Buzau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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