Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Cugir Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Cugir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,305 per month in Iasi vs $920 in Cugir, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,902 per month in Iasi vs $1,350 in Cugir, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,499 per month in Iasi vs $1,779 in Cugir, rent included.

Iasi costs about 42% more than Cugir, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Iasi and Cugir are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 5% lower, Cugir 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00 RON 49.65
$6.26 RON 28.25
75.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.93 RON 198
$22.06 RON 99.6
99.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.83 RON 35.36
$7.68 RON 34.65
1.95%
Cappuccino
$2.97 RON 13.42
$1.58 RON 7.15
87.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 RON 9.98
$1.39 RON 6.25
58.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 RON 8.57
$1.24 RON 5.59
53.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.27 RON 14.77
$1.57 RON 7.10
108.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 RON 18.49
$2.28 RON 10.29
79.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.52
$1.41 RON 6.38
18.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 RON 6.44
$1.30 RON 5.87
10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.15 RON 9.70
$1.79 RON 8.08
20.11%
Eggs
$3.52 RON 15.89
$2.80 RON 12.64
25.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.72 RON 39.37
$7.33 RON 33.09
18.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.48 RON 29.24
$4.98 RON 22.49
30.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.28 RON 46.42
$10.96 RON 49.49
-6.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.40 RON 6.33
$1.72 RON 7.77
-18.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.38
$1.72 RON 7.76
-5.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 RON 7.84
$1.74 RON 7.86
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 RON 10.20
$1.44 RON 6.51
56.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RON 4.15
$0.83 RON 3.77
10.84%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.26
$0.85 RON 3.84
10.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 RON 5.22
$1.26 RON 5.68
-7.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 RON 4.58
$0.84 RON 3.81
20.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.60 RON 29.80
$5.70 RON 25.72
15.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.60 RON 29.79
$5.94 RON 26.80
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 RON 6.34
$1.26 RON 5.69
11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 RON 9.96
$1.88 RON 8.50
17.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 RON 4.04
$0.77 RON 3.47
15.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.55 RON 129
$23.00 RON 104
24.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 RON 3.82
$0.53 RON 2.41
60.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 RON 3.79
$0.54 RON 2.42
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.92 RON 40.28
$5.63 RON 25.41
58.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 RON 8.29
$1.47 RON 6.65
25.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K RON 135.8K
$28.7K RON 129.6K
4.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K RON 131.5K
$26.1K RON 117.9K
11.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 RON 867
$131 RON 592
46.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.81 RON 35.26
$8.70 RON 39.29
-10.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.94 RON 40.34
$7.39 RON 33.35
20.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.28 RON 209
$39.92 RON 180
15.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.61 RON 75.0
$21.20 RON 95.7
-21.65%
Cinema Ticket
$9.05 RON 40.86
$5.45 RON 24.59
66.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 RON 1,902
$165 RON 744
155.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,347 RON 33.2K
$4,062 RON 18.3K
80.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5 RON 341
$32.79 RON 148
130.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.56 RON 183
$8.65 RON 39.04
368.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 RON 432
$73.6 RON 332
30.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 RON 432
$77.2 RON 348
24.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$556 RON 2,509
$409 RON 1,847
35.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$441 RON 1,989
$301 RON 1,360
46.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$916 RON 4,134
$634 RON 2,861
44.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 RON 3,151
$480 RON 2,169
45.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,963 RON 13.4K
$1,957 RON 8,834
51.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,991 RON 8,991
$1,408 RON 6,357
41.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Cugir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,164 RON 5,255
$545 RON 2,461
113.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.18
7.35
-2.31%

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

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Last update for Cugir: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $556 in Iasi versus $409 in Cugir. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 114% higher in Iasi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Iasi versus $22.00 in Cugir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $200 – making Cugir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cugir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cugir cheaper than Iasi?
Yes – Iasi is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,958 per month in Iasi and $1,379 in Cugir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cugir, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Iasi or in Cugir?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Iasi and $22.00 in Cugir. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Iasi and in Cugir?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,305 in Iasi and $920 in Cugir. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Iasi or in Cugir?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cugir, where all-in costs run around $920, than in Iasi at $1,305. In Cugir it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Iasi or Cugir more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cugir – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Iasi or Cugir?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cugir. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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