Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Roman and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Roman: $840 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Roman
🇷🇴 Romania
$840
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $840 in Roman versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Roman $840
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,393 in Roman versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Roman $1,393
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,946 in Roman versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Roman $1,946
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Roman costs roughly 68% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Roman is 38% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.42 RON 49.30
$20.77 $20.77
-49.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.99 RON 161
$84.6 $84.6
-59.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.31 RON 34.59
$12.32 $12.32
-40.67%
Cappuccino
$2.43 RON 11.49
$5.63 $5.63
-56.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 RON 6.54
$3.72 $3.72
-62.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 RON 5.03
$2.50 $2.50
-57.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.05 RON 9.69
$8.05 $8.05
-74.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 RON 10.29
$9.01 $9.01
-75.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 RON 5.61
$1.12 $1.12
6.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 RON 3.10
$3.75 $3.75
-82.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 RON 6.75
$3.26 $3.26
-56.13%
Eggs
$2.89 RON 13.65
$4.17 $4.17
-30.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.55 RON 35.72
$12.90 $12.90
-41.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.72 RON 27.05
$14.16 $14.16
-59.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.63 RON 40.85
$16.22 $16.22
-46.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.07 RON 5.05
$4.33 $4.33
-75.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 RON 7.15
$1.46 $1.46
3.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 RON 6.71
$4.51 $4.51
-68.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 RON 8.30
$4.34 $4.34
-59.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 RON 3.39
$2.58 $2.58
-72.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 RON 4.16
$2.35 $2.35
-62.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 RON 4.17
$1.78 $1.78
-50.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 RON 3.41
$2.22 $2.22
-67.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.62 RON 26.58
$9.88 $9.88
-43.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.34 RON 25.25
$15.08 $15.08
-64.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 RON 4.59
$2.92 $2.92
-66.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.61
$3.46 $3.46
-65.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 RON 3.62
$1.49 $1.49
-48.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.67 RON 103
$41.72 $41.72
-48.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 3.13
$2.73 $2.73
-75.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 3.04
$1.66 $1.66
-61.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.04 RON 33.30
$35.30 $35.30
-80.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 RON 8.22
$0.95 $0.95
83.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K RON 133.1K
$36.0K $36.0K
-21.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K RON 118.6K
$27.1K $27.1K
-7.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 RON 691
$229 $229
-36.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.96 RON 32.93
$59.4 $59.4
-88.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.80 RON 36.88
$69.9 $69.9
-88.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.11 RON 176
$57.2 $57.2
-35.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.05 RON 94.9
$16.33 $16.33
22.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 RON 30.40
$14.28 $14.28
-55.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$295 RON 1,397
$1,506 $1,506
-80.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,901 RON 23.2K
$21.5K $21.5K
-77.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.3 RON 456
$52.8 $52.8
82.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.51 RON 121
$43.82 $43.82
-41.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.4 RON 290
$84.8 $84.8
-27.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0 RON 274
$103 $103
-43.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$213 RON 1,008
$1,907 $1,907
-88.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 RON 745
$1,274 $1,274
-87.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$605 RON 2,863
$3,664 $3,664
-83.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$454 RON 2,146
$2,538 $2,538
-82.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,862 RON 8,812
$7,614 $7,614
-75.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,356 RON 6,413
$3,157 $3,157
-57.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roman
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$820 RON 3,880
$5,121 $5,121
-83.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
6.79
6.04%

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

Last update for Roman: October 13, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Roman
$176
Austin, TX
$405 130% $229
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roman
$161
Austin, TX
$358 123% $198
Eating Out
Roman
$159
Austin, TX
$354 123% $195
Accommodation & Living
Roman
$157
Austin, TX
$1.3K 710% $1.1K
Clothing & Footwear
Roman
$109
Austin, TX
$128 17.9% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Roman
$50
Austin, TX
$86 71.7% $36
Getting Around
Roman
$29
Austin, TX
$59 105% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Roman and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 524% 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: $34.00 in Roman vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $405 per month, with Roman cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Roman
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
10:36 10:36 AM
02:36 2:36 AM
8 h behind Roman
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
80,328
974,447
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Roman Austin, TX 9,800 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Roman
  • 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
Roman vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Roman or Austin, TX?
Roman wins on cost – living expenses run 217% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Roman the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Roman or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 524% 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 Roman compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Roman versus $1,907 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 Roman compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $840 per month in Roman versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 217% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Roman compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Roman runs roughly 93% 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 $1,500/month in Roman or in Austin, TX?
At $840 in Roman versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roman but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Roman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Roman or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Roman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 217% 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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