Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,109 in Craiova versus $1,141 in Iasi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,650 in Craiova versus $1,746 in Iasi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Craiova versus $2,351 in Iasi.

Living in Craiova costs roughly 3% less than in Iasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Craiova 17% lower, Iasi 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 RON 42.65

$10.56 RON 47.99

-11.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.95 RON 209

$51.0 RON 232

-9.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 RON 36.18

$6.75 RON 30.70

17.93%

Cappuccino

$2.49 RON 11.31

$2.61 RON 11.86

-4.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 RON 9.54

$2.00 RON 9.09

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 RON 8.75

$1.68 RON 7.64

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.21

$2.50 RON 11.35

-10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 RON 15.23

$3.37 RON 15.34

-0.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RON 7.09

$1.39 RON 6.31

12.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 RON 4.54

$1.26 RON 5.72

-20.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 RON 7.77

$1.82 RON 8.29

-6.04%

Eggs

$3.23 RON 14.66

$3.25 RON 14.77

-0.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 RON 35.11

$8.14 RON 37.02

-5.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 RON 29.47

$6.85 RON 31.15

-5.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 RON 44.59

$11.03 RON 50.1

-11.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 RON 5.61

$1.24 RON 5.64

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 RON 7.73

$1.62 RON 7.36

4.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.27

$1.77 RON 8.07

-9.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 RON 8.36

$1.91 RON 8.71

-3.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 RON 4.88

$0.95 RON 4.31

12.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.17

$1.01 RON 4.61

12.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RON 3.64

$1.03 RON 4.70

-22.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.65

$0.86 RON 3.89

-6.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 RON 26.74

$6.18 RON 28.09

-4.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 RON 28.81

$6.58 RON 29.93

-3.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 RON 5.91

$1.14 RON 5.17

14.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.24

$1.90 RON 8.66

18.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.28

$0.79 RON 3.59

-8.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.02 RON 105

$27.68 RON 126

-16.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 RON 2.54

$0.88 RON 4.01

-36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 RON 4.04

$0.74 RON 3.37

20.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 RON 30.69

$8.29 RON 37.69

-18.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.29

$1.66 RON 7.56

-3.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.5K RON 124.9K

$28.5K RON 129.4K

-3.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.6K RON 125.6K

$27.2K RON 123.9K

1.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$212 RON 964

$157 RON 712

35.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.08 RON 36.73

$8.32 RON 37.84

-2.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.58 RON 52.6

$9.70 RON 44.11

19.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 RON 168

$46.92 RON 213

-21.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.97 RON 86.2

$18.18 RON 82.7

4.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 RON 29.76

$8.16 RON 37.09

-19.85%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$434 RON 1,971

$469 RON 2,133

-7.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,856 RON 40.3K

$6,858 RON 31.2K

29.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 RON 357

$62.5 RON 284

25.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.91 RON 172

$43.78 RON 199

-13.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 RON 353

$84.1 RON 382

-7.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 RON 394

$87.7 RON 399

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 RON 1,756

$474 RON 2,157

-18.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 RON 1,439

$361 RON 1,640

-12.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 RON 3,209

$730 RON 3,320

-3.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,980

$535 RON 2,431

-18.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,735 RON 12.4K

$2,958 RON 13.4K

-7.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,998 RON 9,082

$1,951 RON 8,869

2.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$945 RON 4,297

$1,168 RON 5,310

-19.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

7.37

-14.79%

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

Last update for Craiova: July 27, 2026

Last update for Iasi: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Craiova and $474 in Iasi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iasi pays 24% 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: $46.00 in Craiova vs $51.0 in Iasi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $213 per month, with Craiova 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

Craiova vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Craiova wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Iasi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Craiova the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 24% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $386 in Craiova versus $474 in Iasi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,109 per month in Craiova versus $1,141 in Iasi – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 20% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,109 in Craiova versus $1,141 in Iasi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Craiova delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,109 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Craiova hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Craiova 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.

Expats usually find Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.