Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Timisoara Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Timisoara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,287 per month in Iasi vs $1,237 in Timisoara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,944 per month in Iasi vs $1,867 in Timisoara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,601 per month in Iasi vs $2,498 in Timisoara, rent included.

Iasi costs about 4% more than Timisoara, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Iasi and Timisoara are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 7% lower, Timisoara 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.18 RON 50.6
$11.18 RON 50.6
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.31 RON 201
$48.24 RON 218
-8.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.84 RON 35.52
$9.10 RON 41.21
-13.85%
Cappuccino
$2.97 RON 13.45
$3.19 RON 14.44
-6.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 RON 10.02
$2.16 RON 9.77
2.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 RON 8.66
$1.68 RON 7.62
13.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 RON 15.30
$2.72 RON 12.31
24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 RON 17.65
$4.46 RON 20.20
-12.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.55
$1.48 RON 6.68
12.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 RON 6.26
$1.30 RON 5.89
6.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.05 RON 9.29
$1.41 RON 6.36
45.39%
Eggs
$3.52 RON 15.94
$2.97 RON 13.47
18.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.36 RON 37.88
$9.16 RON 41.49
-8.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.64 RON 30.08
$6.51 RON 29.50
2.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 RON 47.22
$11.78 RON 53.3
-11.46%
Apples (1kg)
$1.45 RON 6.58
$1.27 RON 5.73
14.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.72
$1.58 RON 7.14
8.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 RON 8.06
$1.55 RON 7.01
14.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 RON 10.25
$2.47 RON 11.18
-8.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 RON 4.00
$0.84 RON 3.78
4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 RON 4.07
$1.03 RON 4.68
-12.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.22 RON 5.51
$0.68 RON 3.10
79.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 RON 4.58
$0.77 RON 3.51
31.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 RON 30.90
$6.48 RON 29.36
5.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.51 RON 29.47
$7.70 RON 34.88
-15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 RON 6.33
$1.20 RON 5.45
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RON 10.05
$1.79 RON 8.10
24.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 RON 3.84
$1.09 RON 4.93
-22.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.56 RON 129
$35.43 RON 160
-19.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 RON 4.20
$0.91 RON 4.13
2.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 RON 4.14
$0.91 RON 4.13
1.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 RON 39.44
$8.59 RON 38.90
1.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 RON 8.35
$1.89 RON 8.57
-2.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0K RON 135.7K
$30.2K RON 136.7K
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K RON 129.6K
$25.5K RON 115.7K
11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 RON 865
$180 RON 813
6.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.82 RON 35.41
$6.91 RON 31.30
13.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.07 RON 41.07
$8.78 RON 39.77
3.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.91 RON 212
$41.17 RON 186
13.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.58 RON 75.1
$16.78 RON 76.0
-1.19%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78 RON 39.77
$9.04 RON 40.95
-2.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$414 RON 1,874
$623 RON 2,823
-33.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,254 RON 32.8K
$9,138 RON 41.4K
-20.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3 RON 337
$77.3 RON 350
-3.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.27 RON 182
$42.17 RON 191
-4.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 RON 428
$80.3 RON 364
17.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1 RON 435
$93.8 RON 425
2.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$558 RON 2,525
$571 RON 2,586
-2.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 RON 2,031
$373 RON 1,688
20.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$932 RON 4,222
$856 RON 3,878
8.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 RON 3,135
$647 RON 2,931
6.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,998 RON 13.6K
$2,646 RON 12.0K
13.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,996 RON 9,041
$1,930 RON 8,740
3.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,203 RON 5,450
$1,222 RON 5,536
-1.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.18
6.88
4.36%

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

Last update for Iasi: September 5, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $558 in Iasi versus $571 in Timisoara. 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 2% higher in Timisoara, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Iasi versus $48.00 in Timisoara. Groceries tell a different story – $224 in Iasi vs $217 in Timisoara – so Timisoara wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Timisoara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iasi and in Timisoara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,287 in Iasi, $1,237 in Timisoara – roughly 4% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Iasi compared to Timisoara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,931 per month in Iasi and $1,856 in Timisoara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Iasi and Timisoara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Timisoara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Iasi and in Timisoara?
Public transport costs about 24% less in Timisoara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iasi and Timisoara?
Kindergarten costs $414 per month in Iasi and $623 in Timisoara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Timisoara, where all-in costs run around $1,237, than in Iasi at $1,287. In Timisoara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Iasi and Timisoara?
It depends on your priorities. Timisoara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,237 in Timisoara to $1,287 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Iasi or Timisoara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Iasi and Timisoara?
If budget matters most, go with Timisoara. 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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