😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Iasi versus $901 in Alexandria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,944 in Iasi versus $1,405 in Alexandria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,601 in Iasi versus $1,908 in Alexandria.
🌍Living in Iasi is roughly 43% more expensive than in Alexandria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Iasi7% lower, Alexandria35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.18RON 50.6
$9.01RON 40.80
24.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.31RON 201
$31.62RON 143
40.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84RON 35.52
$7.74RON 35.03
1.29%
Cappuccino
$2.97RON 13.45
$1.82RON 8.23
63.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RON 10.02
$1.90RON 8.59
16.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91RON 8.66
$1.52RON 6.86
25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38RON 15.30
$2.23RON 10.10
51.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90RON 17.65
$2.70RON 12.23
44.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67RON 7.55
$1.45RON 6.56
15.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38RON 6.26
$0.85RON 3.86
62.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05RON 9.29
$1.21RON 5.48
69.42%
Eggs
$3.52RON 15.94
$2.21RON 10.02
59.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36RON 37.88
$5.22RON 23.63
60.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64RON 30.08
$4.72RON 21.36
40.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.43RON 47.22
$8.56RON 38.79
21.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.45RON 6.58
$0.96RON 4.36
51.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.72
$1.24RON 5.63
37.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78RON 8.06
$1.01RON 4.58
76.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26RON 10.25
$0.98RON 4.42
130.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88RON 4.00
$0.71RON 3.21
23.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.90RON 4.07
$0.68RON 3.09
32.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22RON 5.51
$0.80RON 3.62
52.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01RON 4.58
$0.93RON 4.20
8.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82RON 30.90
$5.50RON 24.89
24.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51RON 29.47
$5.64RON 25.54
15.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40RON 6.33
$0.99RON 4.48
41.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22RON 10.05
$1.14RON 5.15
94.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85RON 3.84
$0.67RON 3.05
26.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.56RON 129
$44.18RON 200
-35.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93RON 4.20
$0.46RON 2.08
102.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92RON 4.14
$0.46RON 2.06
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71RON 39.44
$5.74RON 25.99
51.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84RON 8.35
$1.75RON 7.94
5.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KRON 135.7K
$17.4KRON 78.9K
71.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRON 129.6K
$23.9KRON 108.4K
19.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191RON 865
$122RON 553
56.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.82RON 35.41
$5.37RON 24.31
45.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.07RON 41.07
$8.01RON 36.29
13.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.91RON 212
$62.4RON 283
-24.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.58RON 75.1
$27.00RON 122
-38.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78RON 39.77
$6.49RON 29.39
35.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414RON 1,874
$327RON 1,482
26.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,254RON 32.8K
$7,077RON 32.0K
2.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3RON 337
$55.7RON 252
33.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.27RON 182
$23.04RON 104
74.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5RON 428
$66.7RON 302
41.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1RON 435
$65.3RON 296
47.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558RON 2,525
$329RON 1,491
69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448RON 2,031
$259RON 1,173
73.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$932RON 4,222
$599RON 2,714
55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692RON 3,135
$437RON 1,981
58.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,998RON 13.6K
$1,340RON 6,068
123.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,996RON 9,041
$826RON 3,740
141.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Alexandria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,203RON 5,450
$907RON 4,110
32.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.18
6.73
6.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iasi: September 5, 2026
Last update for Alexandria: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $558 in Iasi and $329 in Alexandria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Iasi pays 33% 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: $44.00 in Iasi vs $32.00 in Alexandria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $159 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 43% 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 33% 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: $558 in Iasi versus $329 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 $1,287 per month in Iasi versus $901 in Alexandria – a 43% 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 55% 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 $901 in Alexandria versus $1,287 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 $901 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 43% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.