Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Craiova: $1,187 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Craiova
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,187
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Craiova and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Craiova and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,187 in Craiova versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Craiova $1,187
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,763 in Craiova versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Craiova $1,763
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,338 in Craiova versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Craiova $2,338
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Craiova costs roughly 56% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Craiova is 11% below, Austin, TX is 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53 RON 35.62
$20.22 $20.22
-62.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.41 RON 196
$85.0 $85.0
-51.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 RON 34.05
$12.35 $12.35
-41.70%
Cappuccino
$2.62 RON 12.40
$5.47 $5.47
-52.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 RON 10.44
$3.82 $3.82
-42.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 RON 8.51
$2.50 $2.50
-28.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 RON 11.14
$8.06 $8.06
-70.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 RON 16.35
$8.99 $8.99
-61.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 RON 6.26
$1.13 $1.13
16.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 RON 4.09
$3.78 $3.78
-76.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 RON 6.54
$3.25 $3.25
-57.54%
Eggs
$3.41 RON 16.12
$4.14 $4.14
-17.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.11 RON 33.61
$13.08 $13.08
-45.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.46 RON 30.57
$14.31 $14.31
-54.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.35 RON 53.7
$15.96 $15.96
-28.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.04 RON 4.90
$4.38 $4.38
-76.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 RON 6.82
$1.45 $1.45
-0.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 RON 6.90
$4.54 $4.54
-67.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 RON 8.66
$4.19 $4.19
-56.32%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.64
$2.63 $2.63
-70.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 RON 4.00
$2.36 $2.36
-64.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 RON 3.24
$1.76 $1.76
-60.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 RON 3.56
$2.16 $2.16
-65.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36 RON 30.08
$9.81 $9.81
-35.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.27 RON 29.66
$14.72 $14.72
-57.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 RON 5.66
$2.78 $2.78
-56.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 RON 6.96
$3.48 $3.48
-57.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 RON 3.87
$1.49 $1.49
-44.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.32 RON 120
$40.51 $40.51
-37.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 RON 3.04
$2.67 $2.67
-76.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 RON 2.89
$1.58 $1.58
-61.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.40 RON 30.25
$35.29 $35.29
-81.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 RON 9.09
$0.99 $0.99
93.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K RON 132.6K
$35.8K $35.8K
-21.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RON 124.0K
$27.2K $27.2K
-3.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 RON 1,011
$219 $219
-2.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.61 RON 45.43
$58.0 $58.0
-83.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.51 RON 54.5
$68.4 $68.4
-83.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.51 RON 211
$57.9 $57.9
-23.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.43 RON 101
$14.82 $14.82
44.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 RON 35.30
$14.13 $14.13
-47.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 RON 1,992
$1,509 $1,509
-72.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,039 RON 38.0K
$21.5K $21.5K
-62.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.1 RON 298
$51.7 $51.7
22.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 RON 241
$44.05 $44.05
15.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.9 RON 392
$85.1 $85.1
-2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 RON 481
$105 $105
-3.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$503 RON 2,379
$1,932 $1,932
-73.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 RON 1,851
$1,272 $1,272
-69.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 RON 4,132
$3,670 $3,670
-76.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$602 RON 2,845
$2,525 $2,525
-76.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,655 RON 12.6K
$7,617 $7,617
-65.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,024 RON 9,575
$3,199 $3,199
-36.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Craiova
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$941 RON 4,449
$5,105 $5,105
-81.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
6.79
0.74%

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

Last update for Craiova: October 3, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Craiova
$391
Austin, TX
$1.3K 225% $881
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Craiova
$235
Austin, TX
$346 47.1% $111
Groceries & Markets
Craiova
$195
Austin, TX
$403 107% $208
Eating Out
Craiova
$148
Austin, TX
$348 135% $200
Clothing & Footwear
Craiova
$134
Austin, TX
$129 4.2% $5.6
Sport & Entertainment
Craiova
$59
Austin, TX
$86 45% $27
Getting Around
Craiova
$32
Austin, TX
$57 76.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $503 in Craiova and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 443% 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: $41.00 in Craiova vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $403 per month, with Craiova cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Craiova
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
13:31 1:31 PM
05:31 5:31 AM
8 h behind Craiova
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
269,506
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.3 RON (1 RON = 0.189 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Craiova Austin, TX 9,820 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Craiova
  • Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Craiova vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Craiova or Austin, TX?
Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 128% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Craiova the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Craiova or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 443% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Craiova compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $503 in Craiova versus $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Craiova compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,187 per month in Craiova versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 128% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Craiova compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 60% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Craiova or in Austin, TX?
At $1,187 in Craiova versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Craiova or Austin, TX?
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.
How safe is Craiova compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Craiova and Austin, TX 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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