😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,137 in Iasi versus $860 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,720 in Iasi versus $1,419 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,303 in Iasi versus $1,978 in Alexandria.
😐Living in Iasi is roughly 32% more expensive than Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Iasi15% lower, Alexandria36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.52RON 47.54
$9.00RON 40.68
16.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4RON 232
$33.89RON 153
51.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73RON 30.43
$6.84RON 30.94
-1.61%
Cappuccino
$2.68RON 12.12
$1.87RON 8.44
43.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08RON 9.38
$1.94RON 8.78
7.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74RON 7.87
$1.64RON 7.41
6.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.46RON 11.11
$2.24RON 10.15
9.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42RON 15.45
$2.84RON 12.83
20.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40RON 6.33
$1.34RON 6.06
4.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RON 5.51
$1.27RON 5.73
-3.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87RON 8.44
$1.41RON 6.37
32.62%
Eggs
$3.21RON 14.49
$1.40RON 6.31
129.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.95RON 35.94
$5.34RON 24.15
48.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.70RON 30.28
$4.48RON 20.26
49.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.99RON 49.66
$8.59RON 38.82
27.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24RON 5.60
$0.89RON 4.03
39.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.32
$1.51RON 6.80
7.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73RON 7.83
$1.18RON 5.31
46.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97RON 8.89
$1.12RON 5.07
75.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99RON 4.47
$0.48RON 2.18
106.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05RON 4.73
$0.71RON 3.21
47.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.68
$0.44RON 2.01
136.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.89
$0.72RON 3.26
19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37RON 28.81
$5.65RON 25.53
12.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.61RON 29.88
$5.62RON 25.41
17.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09RON 4.95
$0.72RON 3.24
51.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98RON 8.95
$0.91RON 4.10
117.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85RON 3.83
$0.72RON 3.27
18.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.13RON 123
$23.07RON 104
17.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89RON 4.03
$0.47RON 2.13
89.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70RON 3.16
$0.44RON 1.97
59.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84RON 35.44
$5.20RON 23.50
50.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66RON 7.51
$1.58RON 7.16
5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 129.0K
$18.1KRON 81.7K
57.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRON 123.6K
$23.9KRON 107.9K
14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156RON 707
$115RON 521
35.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.47RON 38.31
$6.98RON 31.55
21.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.21RON 46.17
$6.86RON 31.01
48.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.10RON 213
$38.58RON 174
22.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25RON 82.5
$9.09RON 41.07
100.77%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17RON 36.95
$4.66RON 21.05
75.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463RON 2,093
$436RON 1,971
6.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,028RON 31.8K
$6,987RON 31.6K
0.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3RON 282
$67.6RON 306
-7.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.79RON 193
$34.95RON 158
22.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4RON 390
$69.3RON 313
24.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9RON 393
$68.5RON 310
26.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474RON 2,144
$349RON 1,576
36.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361RON 1,634
$232RON 1,047
55.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$750RON 3,391
$802RON 3,624
-6.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$550RON 2,488
$571RON 2,580
-3.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,076RON 13.9K
$1,357RON 6,135
126.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,997RON 9,025
$843RON 3,811
136.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,191RON 5,383
$1,332RON 6,021
-10.59%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Iasi and $349 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alexandria pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Iasi vs $34.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $155 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 32% 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 Alexandria?
On paper, Alexandria earns 12% less. 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 Iasi vs Alexandria?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Iasi versus $349 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 $1,137 per month in Iasi versus $860 in Alexandria – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Iasi vs Alexandria?
A monthly transit pass in Alexandria runs roughly 18% 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 Alexandria?
At $860 in Alexandria versus $1,137 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 $860 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 32% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.