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 $947 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,137 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,455 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,720 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,962 per month in Satu Mare vs $2,303 in Iasi, rent included.

Satu Mare is about 17% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Satu Mare and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Satu Mare 29% lower, Iasi 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.97 RON 40.57

$10.52 RON 47.54

-14.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.81 RON 212

$51.4 RON 232

-8.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.73 RON 30.41

$6.73 RON 30.43

Cappuccino

$2.44 RON 11.04

$2.68 RON 12.12

-8.96%

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

$1.72 RON 7.79

$2.08 RON 9.38

-17.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 RON 6.60

$1.74 RON 7.87

-16.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 RON 9.08

$2.46 RON 11.11

-18.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 RON 10.28

$3.42 RON 15.45

-33.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 RON 6.84

$1.40 RON 6.33

7.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 RON 5.12

$1.22 RON 5.51

-7.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 RON 5.72

$1.87 RON 8.44

-32.09%

Eggs

$3.09 RON 13.95

$3.21 RON 14.49

-3.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.29 RON 37.48

$7.95 RON 35.94

4.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 RON 28.56

$6.70 RON 30.28

-5.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.36 RON 51.4

$10.99 RON 49.66

3.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 RON 4.91

$1.24 RON 5.60

-12.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 RON 6.77

$1.62 RON 7.32

-7.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.32

$1.73 RON 7.83

-19.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 RON 8.08

$1.97 RON 8.89

-9.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 RON 3.22

$0.99 RON 4.47

-28.28%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.45

$1.05 RON 4.73

-6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 RON 3.01

$1.04 RON 4.68

-35.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 RON 3.48

$0.86 RON 3.89

-10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 RON 25.82

$6.37 RON 28.81

-10.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.47 RON 29.26

$6.61 RON 29.88

-2.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 RON 5.64

$1.09 RON 4.95

14.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 RON 7.56

$1.98 RON 8.95

-15.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 RON 2.68

$0.85 RON 3.83

-30.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.41 RON 115

$27.13 RON 123

-6.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 RON 3.74

$0.89 RON 4.03

-6.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 RON 3.94

$0.70 RON 3.16

24.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 RON 33.08

$7.84 RON 35.44

-6.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 RON 7.00

$1.66 RON 7.51

-6.63%

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

$25.1K RON 113.7K

$28.5K RON 129.0K

-11.89%

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

$25.4K RON 115.0K

$27.3K RON 123.6K

-6.96%

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

$137 RON 621

$156 RON 707

-12.18%

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

$8.00 RON 36.14

$8.47 RON 38.31

-5.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.30 RON 42.06

$10.21 RON 46.17

-8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.87 RON 221

$47.10 RON 213

3.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.66 RON 52.7

$18.25 RON 82.5

-36.11%

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 RON 30.70

$8.17 RON 36.95

-16.89%

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

$187 RON 844

$463 RON 2,093

-59.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.3K RON 46.3K

$7,028 RON 31.8K

45.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 RON 297

$62.3 RON 282

5.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.23 RON 137

$42.79 RON 193

-29.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 RON 367

$86.4 RON 390

-5.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 RON 346

$86.9 RON 393

-12.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,374

$474 RON 2,144

-35.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 RON 1,069

$361 RON 1,634

-34.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 RON 2,469

$750 RON 3,391

-27.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 RON 1,574

$550 RON 2,488

-36.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,057 RON 4,776

$3,076 RON 13.9K

-65.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,117 RON 5,048

$1,997 RON 9,025

-44.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 RON 3,115

$1,191 RON 5,383

-42.14%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $304 in Satu Mare versus $474 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 73% 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 $47.00 in Satu Mare versus $51.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $202 vs $212 – 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: $947 in Satu Mare, $1,137 in Iasi – roughly 20% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Satu Mare and $1,706 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 7% less in Satu Mare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $187 per month in Satu Mare and $463 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 $947, than in Iasi at $1,137. 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 $947 in Satu Mare to $1,137 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.