Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Braila Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Braila

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,157 in Iasi versus $1,102 in Braila.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,741 in Iasi versus $1,688 in Braila.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,326 in Iasi versus $2,274 in Braila.

Living in Iasi is roughly 5% more expensive than Braila, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iasi 14% lower, Braila 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20 RON 44.45
$13.88 RON 60.5
-26.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 RON 225
$46.66 RON 203
10.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.08 RON 30.87
$8.25 RON 35.97
-14.18%
Cappuccino
$2.59 RON 11.30
$2.68 RON 11.69
-3.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 RON 9.10
$1.93 RON 8.44
8.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 RON 7.68
$1.76 RON 7.66
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 RON 10.77
$2.26 RON 9.87
9.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 RON 15.26
$3.23 RON 14.09
8.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RON 6.02
$1.57 RON 6.84
-12.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 RON 5.48
$1.30 RON 5.67
-3.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 RON 7.81
$1.85 RON 8.05
-3.24%
Eggs
$3.11 RON 13.57
$3.50 RON 15.25
-11.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.11 RON 35.38
$8.41 RON 36.67
-3.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 RON 29.57
$6.37 RON 27.77
6.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 RON 48.26
$10.39 RON 45.32
6.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 RON 5.12
$1.26 RON 5.48
-7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.12
$1.70 RON 7.41
-4.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 RON 7.89
$1.72 RON 7.50
5.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 RON 8.35
$1.84 RON 8.02
4.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.38
$0.85 RON 3.70
17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 RON 4.45
$1.10 RON 4.80
-7.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.38
$0.66 RON 2.88
51.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 RON 3.82
$0.80 RON 3.50
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30 RON 27.47
$5.93 RON 25.84
6.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 RON 30.19
$6.62 RON 28.86
4.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 RON 4.80
$1.08 RON 4.69
1.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 RON 8.40
$1.61 RON 7.04
19.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Braila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 RON 3.38
$0.61 RON 2.65
26.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.83 RON 121
$16.06 RON 70.0
73.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 RON 3.91
$0.89 RON 3.90
1.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 RON 3.24
$0.64 RON 2.81
15.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 RON 35.39
$7.70 RON 33.57
5.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.26
$1.55 RON 6.78
7.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K RON 120.9K
$27.6K RON 120.5K
0.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K RON 120.4K
$27.7K RON 120.8K
-0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 RON 676
$154 RON 670
0.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32 RON 36.28
$7.88 RON 34.37
5.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.07 RON 43.93
$9.25 RON 40.32
8.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.91 RON 205
$35.04 RON 153
33.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 RON 81.1
$13.67 RON 59.6
36.14%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 RON 35.39
$6.86 RON 29.91
18.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 RON 2,016
$300 RON 1,309
53.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,992 RON 30.5K
$6,941 RON 30.3K
0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 RON 273
$67.4 RON 294
-7.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.85 RON 187
$55.0 RON 240
-22.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.6 RON 364
$72.0 RON 314
16.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 RON 388
$114 RON 498
-22.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Braila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 RON 2,036
$381 RON 1,662
22.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 RON 1,545
$309 RON 1,347
14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 RON 3,150
$570 RON 2,485
26.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 RON 2,403
$460 RON 2,005
19.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,903 RON 12.7K
$2,065 RON 9,004
40.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,842 RON 8,033
$1,457 RON 6,351
26.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Braila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,134 RON 4,942
$912 RON 3,975
24.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.37
6.78
8.70%

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

Last update for Iasi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Braila: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $467 in Iasi and $381 in Braila. 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: $52.0 in Iasi vs $47.00 in Braila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $213 vs $210 per month, with Braila 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 Braila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Iasi or Braila?
Braila wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Iasi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Braila the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Iasi or Braila?
Iasi pays 24% more on average, 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 vs Braila?
Rent for a central apartment: $467 in Iasi versus $381 in Braila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Iasi vs Braila?
A monthly transit pass in Braila runs roughly 73% less than in Iasi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Iasi and Braila?
Childcare runs $462 in Iasi versus $300 in Braila. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Iasi or Braila?
At $1,102 in Braila versus $1,157 in Iasi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Braila but tight or insufficient in Iasi. The gap between the two cities makes Braila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Iasi or Braila?
Both work as nomad bases, but Braila delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,102 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Braila hard to pass up.
How safe is Iasi compared to Braila?
Safety-wise, Iasi and Braila 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 Braila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Iasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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