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: $1,096 in Buzau versus $1,137 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Buzau versus $1,720 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,066 in Buzau versus $2,303 in Iasi.

Living in Buzau costs roughly 4% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buzau 18% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 RON 54.9
$10.52 RON 47.54
15.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.99 RON 113
$51.4 RON 232
-51.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.89 RON 26.62
$6.73 RON 30.43
-12.48%
Cappuccino
$2.70 RON 12.20
$2.68 RON 12.12
0.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 8.97
$2.08 RON 9.38
-4.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.11
$1.74 RON 7.87
-9.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 RON 14.83
$2.46 RON 11.11
33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 RON 15.69
$3.42 RON 15.45
1.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 RON 6.66
$1.40 RON 6.33
5.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 RON 6.12
$1.22 RON 5.51
10.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 RON 8.04
$1.87 RON 8.44
-4.81%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.14
$3.21 RON 14.49
4.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 RON 39.51
$7.95 RON 35.94
9.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 RON 31.35
$6.70 RON 30.28
3.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.24 RON 46.27
$10.99 RON 49.66
-6.82%
Apples (1kg)
$0.89 RON 4.04
$1.24 RON 5.60
-28.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 RON 6.97
$1.62 RON 7.32
-4.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.34
$1.73 RON 7.83
-31.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 RON 7.91
$1.97 RON 8.89
-11.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 RON 3.95
$0.99 RON 4.47
-12.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 RON 4.82
$1.05 RON 4.73
1.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 RON 2.73
$1.04 RON 4.68
-42.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 RON 2.74
$0.86 RON 3.89
-29.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.60 RON 25.33
$6.37 RON 28.81
-12.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.60 RON 29.85
$6.61 RON 29.88
-0.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 RON 4.80
$1.09 RON 4.95
-2.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 RON 7.75
$1.98 RON 8.95
-13.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 RON 3.05
$0.85 RON 3.83
-21.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.34 RON 87.4
$27.13 RON 123
-28.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.65 RON 2.93
$0.89 RON 4.03
-26.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 RON 3.40
$0.70 RON 3.16
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.95 RON 31.41
$7.84 RON 35.44
-11.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.64 RON 7.40
$1.66 RON 7.51
-1.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K RON 95.2K
$28.5K RON 129.0K
-26.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K RON 105.6K
$27.3K RON 123.6K
-14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 RON 566
$156 RON 707
-19.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43 RON 29.08
$8.47 RON 38.31
-24.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.05 RON 40.93
$10.21 RON 46.17
-11.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.13 RON 168
$47.10 RON 213
-21.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.02 RON 90.5
$18.25 RON 82.5
9.70%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 RON 26.79
$8.17 RON 36.95
-27.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$334 RON 1,512
$463 RON 2,093
-27.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,544 RON 29.6K
$7,028 RON 31.8K
-6.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.8 RON 275
$62.3 RON 282
-2.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.04 RON 195
$42.79 RON 193
0.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 RON 429
$86.4 RON 390
9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 RON 447
$86.9 RON 393
13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 RON 2,010
$474 RON 2,144
-6.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 RON 1,643
$361 RON 1,634
0.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$622 RON 2,813
$750 RON 3,391
-17.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$470 RON 2,123
$550 RON 2,488
-14.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,555 RON 7,029
$3,076 RON 13.9K
-49.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,217 RON 5,501
$1,997 RON 9,025
-39.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buzau
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$902 RON 4,076
$1,191 RON 5,383
-24.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
7.37
4.48%

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

Last update for Buzau: June 1, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Buzau and $474 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 32% 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: $25.00 in Buzau vs $51.0 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $212 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 Iasi?
Buzau and Iasi differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,096 vs $1,137 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, Iasi earns 32% less. 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 Iasi?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Buzau versus $474 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 4% 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 $25.00 versus $51.0 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 $1,096 in Buzau versus $1,137 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 4% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Buzau vs other spots: cost of living compared

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