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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in Iasi vs $1,150 in Timisoara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,720 per month in Iasi vs $1,792 in Timisoara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,303 per month in Iasi vs $2,435 in Timisoara, rent included.

Iasi is about 1% cheaper than Timisoara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Iasi and Timisoara are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 15% lower, Timisoara 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.52 RON 47.59
$9.04 RON 40.91
16.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4 RON 232
$58.5 RON 265
-12.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 RON 30.46
$7.98 RON 36.13
-15.66%
Cappuccino
$2.68 RON 12.13
$3.13 RON 14.18
-14.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 RON 9.39
$2.18 RON 9.85
-4.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 RON 7.88
$1.98 RON 8.98
-12.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.46 RON 11.12
$2.72 RON 12.32
-9.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 RON 15.47
$3.50 RON 15.85
-2.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 RON 6.33
$1.53 RON 6.94
-8.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.51
$1.28 RON 5.79
-4.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 RON 8.45
$1.49 RON 6.75
25.50%
Eggs
$3.21 RON 14.51
$3.24 RON 14.64
-0.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.95 RON 35.98
$9.76 RON 44.18
-18.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.70 RON 30.32
$6.41 RON 29.02
4.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 RON 49.71
$11.37 RON 51.5
-3.34%
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 RON 5.61
$1.09 RON 4.93
13.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.33
$1.52 RON 6.87
6.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 RON 7.84
$1.55 RON 7.03
11.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 RON 8.90
$2.58 RON 11.70
-23.64%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 RON 4.48
$0.78 RON 3.54
26.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 RON 4.73
$0.98 RON 4.42
7.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 RON 4.68
$0.67 RON 3.01
55.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 RON 3.89
$0.74 RON 3.33
16.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37 RON 28.85
$5.85 RON 26.49
8.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.61 RON 29.92
$7.95 RON 35.96
-16.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 RON 4.95
$1.20 RON 5.45
-9.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 8.96
$1.72 RON 7.76
15.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 RON 3.84
$0.95 RON 4.30
-10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.13 RON 123
$30.04 RON 136
-9.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 RON 4.03
$0.90 RON 4.07
-1.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.16
$0.83 RON 3.76
-15.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 RON 35.48
$7.18 RON 32.51
9.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 RON 7.51
$1.57 RON 7.11
5.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 129.2K
$27.5K RON 124.4K
3.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K RON 123.7K
$26.7K RON 120.6K
2.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 RON 708
$139 RON 628
12.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.47 RON 38.35
$8.33 RON 37.72
1.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.21 RON 46.22
$9.19 RON 41.58
11.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.10 RON 213
$43.01 RON 195
9.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 RON 82.6
$15.00 RON 67.9
21.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17 RON 36.99
$7.99 RON 36.17
2.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 RON 2,095
$491 RON 2,220
-5.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,028 RON 31.8K
$10.3K RON 46.6K
-31.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3 RON 282
$78.7 RON 356
-20.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.79 RON 194
$43.23 RON 196
-1.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 RON 391
$82.7 RON 374
4.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 RON 393
$94.9 RON 429
-8.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 RON 2,147
$495 RON 2,241
-4.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 RON 1,635
$358 RON 1,622
0.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$750 RON 3,395
$740 RON 3,348
1.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$550 RON 2,491
$607 RON 2,746
-9.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,076 RON 13.9K
$2,652 RON 12.0K
15.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,997 RON 9,036
$1,964 RON 8,890
1.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Timisoara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,191 RON 5,389
$1,217 RON 5,508
-2.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.37
6.66
10.66%

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

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Timisoara: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Iasi versus $495 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 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 $51.0 in Iasi versus $58.0 in Timisoara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $217 – making Iasi 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 Timisoara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iasi and Timisoara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,137 in Iasi, $1,150 in Timisoara – roughly 1% apart. Timisoara costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Iasi compared to Timisoara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,706 per month in Iasi and $1,725 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 Iasi, 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 Timisoara?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Iasi. 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 $463 per month in Iasi and $491 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 Iasi, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Timisoara at $1,150. In Iasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Timisoara 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 $1,137 in Iasi to $1,150 in Timisoara. 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 Iasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Timisoara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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