Cost of Living Comparison Between Satu Mare and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Satu Mare and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $973 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,156 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,472 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,753 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,972 per month in Satu Mare vs $2,350 in Iasi, rent included.

Satu Mare is about 16% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Satu Mare and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Satu Mare 27% lower, Iasi 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.49 RON 43.50

$10.39 RON 47.66

-8.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.08 RON 211

$51.6 RON 236

-10.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.77 RON 31.03

$7.12 RON 32.64

-4.92%

Cappuccino

$2.42 RON 11.10

$2.63 RON 12.08

-7.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 RON 7.89

$2.11 RON 9.67

-18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 RON 6.42

$1.71 RON 7.85

-18.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 RON 9.78

$2.47 RON 11.34

-13.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 RON 10.39

$3.36 RON 15.41

-32.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 RON 6.81

$1.43 RON 6.55

3.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 RON 5.20

$1.22 RON 5.58

-7.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 RON 5.69

$1.89 RON 8.65

-34.39%

Eggs

$3.21 RON 14.73

$3.09 RON 14.15

3.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 RON 36.25

$8.12 RON 37.26

-2.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.38 RON 29.25

$6.93 RON 31.76

-7.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.47 RON 52.6

$10.88 RON 49.90

5.42%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.23

$1.23 RON 5.65

-7.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 RON 6.57

$1.55 RON 7.13

-7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.50

$1.71 RON 7.85

-16.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 RON 8.26

$1.92 RON 8.79

-6.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.30

$0.94 RON 4.30

-23.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.65

$1.00 RON 4.60

1.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 RON 3.11

$1.00 RON 4.59

-32.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.58

$0.86 RON 3.94

-9.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.80 RON 26.59

$6.28 RON 28.78

-7.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.55 RON 30.05

$6.39 RON 29.29

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 RON 5.55

$1.10 RON 5.04

10.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 RON 7.89

$1.92 RON 8.82

-10.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 RON 2.55

$0.79 RON 3.64

-29.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.62 RON 118

$27.96 RON 128

-8.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 RON 4.17

$0.94 RON 4.30

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 RON 3.70

$0.71 RON 3.26

14.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.35 RON 33.71

$8.14 RON 37.33

-9.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.33

$1.68 RON 7.70

-4.76%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.0K RON 114.6K

$28.5K RON 130.8K

-12.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.0K RON 119.2K

$27.7K RON 127.1K

-6.20%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$139 RON 635

$157 RON 718

-11.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.08 RON 37.07

$8.51 RON 39.04

-5.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.45 RON 43.34

$10.26 RON 47.05

-7.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.91 RON 220

$47.27 RON 217

1.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.58 RON 53.1

$18.50 RON 84.8

-37.41%

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 RON 31.49

$8.00 RON 36.71

-14.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$181 RON 831

$471 RON 2,158

-61.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K RON 46.6K

$6,866 RON 31.5K

47.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 RON 300

$61.0 RON 280

7.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.97 RON 142

$43.56 RON 200

-28.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 RON 384

$86.8 RON 398

-3.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.8 RON 357

$87.5 RON 401

-11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 RON 1,416

$473 RON 2,170

-34.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 RON 1,104

$359 RON 1,647

-32.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$543 RON 2,489

$742 RON 3,402

-26.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 RON 1,571

$533 RON 2,446

-35.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,039 RON 4,767

$2,911 RON 13.4K

-64.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,078 RON 4,945

$1,932 RON 8,861

-44.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$692 RON 3,171

$1,182 RON 5,421

-41.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

7.37

-9.63%

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

Last update for Satu Mare: July 14, 2026

Last update for Iasi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $309 in Satu Mare versus $473 in Iasi. 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 71% 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 $46.00 in Satu Mare versus $52.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $211 – making Satu Mare 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

Satu Mare vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $973 in Satu Mare, $1,156 in Iasi – roughly 19% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,459 per month in Satu Mare and $1,734 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Satu Mare, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 9% less in Satu Mare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $181 per month in Satu Mare and $471 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Satu Mare, where all-in costs run around $973, than in Iasi at $1,156. In Satu Mare it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $973 in Satu Mare to $1,156 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Satu Mare. 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.