Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Iasi: $1,251 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $17,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Iasi
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,251
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Iasi 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 Iasi and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,251 in Iasi versus $2,704 in Austin, TX.

  • Iasi $1,251
  • Austin, TX $2,704

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Iasi versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Iasi $1,834
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,417 in Iasi versus $5,562 in Austin, TX.

  • Iasi $2,417
  • Austin, TX $5,562

Living in Iasi costs roughly 54% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Iasi is 7% below, Austin, TX is 102% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.54 RON 50.2
$20.22 $20.22
-47.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.58 RON 198
$85.0 $85.0
-51.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 RON 33.17
$12.35 $12.35
-43.64%
Cappuccino
$2.95 RON 14.07
$5.47 $5.47
-46.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 RON 10.89
$3.82 $3.82
-40.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 RON 8.46
$2.50 $2.50
-28.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 RON 14.58
$8.06 $8.06
-62.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 RON 17.59
$8.99 $8.99
-58.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 RON 7.14
$1.13 $1.13
32.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.33 RON 6.34
$3.78 $3.78
-64.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 RON 9.44
$3.25 $3.25
-39.08%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.95
$4.14 $4.14
-19.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.21 RON 39.11
$13.08 $13.08
-37.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.61 RON 31.52
$14.31 $14.31
-53.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.76 RON 46.50
$15.96 $15.96
-38.85%
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 RON 6.53
$4.38 $4.38
-68.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.74
$1.45 $1.45
11.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 RON 7.92
$4.54 $4.54
-63.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 RON 10.28
$4.19 $4.19
-48.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 RON 4.02
$2.63 $2.63
-68.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 RON 3.95
$2.36 $2.36
-64.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 RON 5.30
$1.76 $1.76
-36.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RON 4.46
$2.16 $2.16
-56.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26 RON 29.82
$9.81 $9.81
-36.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.87 RON 32.76
$14.72 $14.72
-53.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 RON 6.22
$2.78 $2.78
-52.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 RON 9.84
$3.48 $3.48
-40.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 RON 4.08
$1.49 $1.49
-42.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.82 RON 133
$40.51 $40.51
-31.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 RON 4.12
$2.67 $2.67
-67.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 RON 4.05
$1.58 $1.58
-46.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.30 RON 39.57
$35.29 $35.29
-76.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.90 RON 9.08
$0.99 $0.99
91.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 135.7K
$35.8K $35.8K
-20.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K RON 130.2K
$27.2K $27.2K
0.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 RON 870
$219 $219
-16.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.40 RON 35.28
$58.0 $58.0
-87.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.66 RON 41.28
$68.4 $68.4
-87.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.73 RON 213
$57.9 $57.9
-22.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.73 RON 75.0
$14.82 $14.82
6.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 RON 38.86
$14.13 $14.13
-42.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 RON 1,962
$1,509 $1,509
-72.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,959 RON 33.2K
$21.5K $21.5K
-67.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9 RON 352
$51.7 $51.7
43.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35 RON 188
$44.05 $44.05
-10.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 RON 453
$85.1 $85.1
11.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.0 RON 438
$105 $105
-12.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 RON 2,567
$1,932 $1,932
-72.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 RON 2,036
$1,272 $1,272
-66.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$874 RON 4,163
$3,670 $3,670
-76.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 RON 3,185
$2,525 $2,525
-73.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,932 RON 14.0K
$7,617 $7,617
-61.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 RON 9,103
$3,199 $3,199
-40.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,117 RON 5,324
$5,105 $5,105
-78.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.18
6.79
5.74%

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

Last update for Iasi: October 4, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Iasi
$427
Austin, TX
$1.3K 198% $845
Groceries & Markets
Iasi
$215
Austin, TX
$403 87.5% $188
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
$199
Austin, TX
$346 74% $147
Eating Out
Iasi
$180
Austin, TX
$348 93.8% $168
Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
$135
Austin, TX
$129 4.7% $6.4
Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
$61
Austin, TX
$86 41.2% $25
Getting Around
Iasi
$36
Austin, TX
$57 56.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $539 in Iasi and $1,932 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 357% 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: $42.00 in Iasi vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $403 per month, with Iasi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Iasi
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
14:12 2:12 PM
06:12 6:12 AM
8 h behind Iasi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
290,422
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 = 4.77 RON (1 RON = 0.21 USD). 1 EUR = 5.34 RON (1 RON = 0.187 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
  • Iasi Austin, TX 9,820 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Iasi
  • 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
Iasi vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iasi or Austin, TX?
Iasi wins on cost – living expenses run 116% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Iasi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Iasi or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 357% 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 Iasi compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $539 in Iasi 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 Iasi compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $1,251 per month in Iasi versus $2,704 in Austin, TX – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Iasi compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Iasi runs roughly 46% 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 $2,000/month in Iasi or in Austin, TX?
At $1,251 in Iasi versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iasi but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Iasi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iasi or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Iasi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,251 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Iasi hard to pass up.
How safe is Iasi compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Iasi 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 Iasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% 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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