😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,156 in Iasi versus $836 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,753 in Iasi versus $1,380 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,350 in Iasi versus $1,924 in Alexandria.
🌍Living in Iasi is roughly 38% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Iasi13% lower, Alexandria37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39RON 47.70
$9.29RON 42.66
11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6RON 237
$34.04RON 156
51.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12RON 32.67
$7.11RON 32.63
0.14%
Cappuccino
$2.63RON 12.09
$1.88RON 8.65
39.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11RON 9.67
$1.99RON 9.12
6.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71RON 7.86
$1.64RON 7.54
4.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47RON 11.35
$2.36RON 10.82
4.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36RON 15.43
$2.73RON 12.53
23.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43RON 6.55
$1.42RON 6.50
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RON 5.59
$1.26RON 5.77
-3.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.66
$1.35RON 6.19
40.00%
Eggs
$3.09RON 14.16
$1.36RON 6.27
127.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12RON 37.29
$5.22RON 23.95
55.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.93RON 31.79
$4.65RON 21.34
49.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.88RON 49.95
$8.97RON 41.18
21.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.66
$0.94RON 4.32
30.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55RON 7.14
$1.52RON 6.95
1.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.86
$1.18RON 5.43
44.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92RON 8.80
$1.13RON 5.18
69.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.31
$0.44RON 2.04
113.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.60
$0.67RON 3.07
49.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00RON 4.59
$0.44RON 2.02
127.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.94
$0.72RON 3.32
19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28RON 28.81
$5.50RON 25.24
14.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.39RON 29.32
$5.41RON 24.85
18.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10RON 5.04
$0.67RON 3.06
64.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92RON 8.83
$0.95RON 4.35
102.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79RON 3.65
$0.71RON 3.28
11.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.96RON 128
$23.48RON 108
19.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94RON 4.31
$0.48RON 2.20
95.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71RON 3.26
$0.44RON 2.01
61.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.14RON 37.36
$4.99RON 22.89
63.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68RON 7.71
$1.59RON 7.32
5.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 130.9K
$18.1KRON 82.9K
57.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRON 127.2K
$24.0KRON 110.4K
15.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157RON 718
$118RON 540
32.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51RON 39.08
$7.11RON 32.62
19.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.26RON 47.09
$6.89RON 31.62
48.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.27RON 217
$38.29RON 176
23.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.50RON 84.9
$9.04RON 41.48
104.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.00RON 36.74
$4.74RON 21.76
68.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$471RON 2,160
$431RON 1,980
9.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,866RON 31.5K
$7,025RON 32.2K
-2.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0RON 280
$69.6RON 320
-12.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.56RON 200
$34.98RON 161
24.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8RON 398
$68.4RON 314
26.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5RON 401
$69.4RON 318
26.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473RON 2,172
$342RON 1,571
38.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$359RON 1,649
$231RON 1,059
55.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$742RON 3,405
$798RON 3,662
-7.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$533RON 2,448
$571RON 2,620
-6.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,911RON 13.4K
$1,329RON 6,099
119.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,932RON 8,869
$811RON 3,725
138.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,182RON 5,426
$861RON 3,955
37.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.37
6.5
13.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iasi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $473 in Iasi and $342 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Iasi pays 37% 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: $52.0 in Iasi vs $34.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $157 per month, with Alexandria 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
Iasi vs Alexandria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iasi or Alexandria?
Alexandria wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Iasi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Alexandria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Iasi or in Alexandria?
Average pay runs 37% higher in Iasi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Iasi compared to Alexandria?
Rent for a central apartment: $473 in Iasi versus $342 in Alexandria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Iasi compared to Alexandria?
All in, you'll spend $1,156 per month in Iasi versus $836 in Alexandria – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Iasi compared to Alexandria?
A monthly transit pass in Alexandria runs roughly 19% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Iasi or in Alexandria?
At $836 in Alexandria versus $1,156 in Iasi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alexandria but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iasi or Alexandria?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $836 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandria hard to pass up.
How safe is Iasi compared to Alexandria?
Safety-wise, Iasi and Alexandria 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 Alexandria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.