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 $971 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,305 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Satu Mare vs $1,902 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Satu Mare vs $2,499 in Iasi, rent included.

Satu Mare is about 26% 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 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 RON 39.58

$11.00 RON 49.65

-20.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.37 RON 155

$43.93 RON 198

-21.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 RON 29.75

$7.83 RON 35.36

-15.84%

Cappuccino

$2.63 RON 11.88

$2.97 RON 13.42

-11.45%

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

$1.54 RON 6.95

$2.21 RON 9.98

-30.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 RON 6.08

$1.90 RON 8.57

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 RON 9.07

$3.27 RON 14.77

-38.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 RON 11.22

$4.09 RON 18.49

-39.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 RON 5.61

$1.67 RON 7.52

-25.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 RON 5.01

$1.43 RON 6.44

-22.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 RON 5.18

$2.15 RON 9.70

-46.51%

Eggs

$2.71 RON 12.23

$3.52 RON 15.89

-23.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.65 RON 34.54

$8.72 RON 39.37

-12.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 RON 35.98

$6.48 RON 29.24

22.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.51 RON 52.0

$10.28 RON 46.42

11.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.13 RON 5.11

$1.40 RON 6.33

-19.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.39

$1.63 RON 7.38

-13.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 RON 6.14

$1.74 RON 7.84

-21.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 RON 6.42

$2.26 RON 10.20

-37.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 RON 5.61

$0.92 RON 4.15

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.19

$0.94 RON 4.26

45.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 RON 4.46

$1.16 RON 5.22

-14.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 RON 3.18

$1.01 RON 4.58

-29.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 RON 25.76

$6.60 RON 29.80

-13.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.51 RON 29.39

$6.60 RON 29.79

-1.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 RON 5.78

$1.40 RON 6.34

-8.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 RON 8.41

$2.21 RON 9.96

-15.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 RON 2.42

$0.89 RON 4.04

-39.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.69 RON 111

$28.55 RON 129

-13.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 RON 4.03

$0.85 RON 3.82

4.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 RON 4.15

$0.84 RON 3.79

9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.40 RON 37.93

$8.92 RON 40.28

-5.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.25

$1.84 RON 8.29

-12.50%

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

$23.8K RON 107.4K

$30.1K RON 135.8K

-20.90%

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

$25.8K RON 116.3K

$29.1K RON 131.5K

-11.54%

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

$130 RON 588

$192 RON 867

-32.18%

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

$7.67 RON 34.64

$7.81 RON 35.26

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.41 RON 33.46

$8.94 RON 40.34

-17.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.41 RON 196

$46.28 RON 209

-6.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.27 RON 50.9

$16.61 RON 75.0

-32.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 RON 30.09

$9.05 RON 40.86

-26.41%

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

$169 RON 762

$421 RON 1,902

-59.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,064 RON 18.3K

$7,347 RON 33.2K

-44.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 RON 285

$75.5 RON 341

-16.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.98 RON 135

$40.56 RON 183

-26.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 RON 400

$95.7 RON 432

-7.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 RON 331

$95.8 RON 432

-23.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 RON 1,522

$556 RON 2,509

-39.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 RON 1,230

$441 RON 1,989

-38.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 RON 3,092

$916 RON 4,134

-25.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 RON 1,915

$698 RON 3,151

-39.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,046 RON 4,720

$2,963 RON 13.4K

-64.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,086 RON 4,901

$1,991 RON 8,991

-45.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$704 RON 3,177

$1,164 RON 5,255

-39.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

7.18

-1.81%

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

Last update for Satu Mare: August 30, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Satu Mare versus $556 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 65% 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 $34.00 in Satu Mare versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $224 – 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: $971 in Satu Mare, $1,305 in Iasi – roughly 34% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,456 per month in Satu Mare and $1,958 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 16% less in Satu Mare. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Satu Mare and $421 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 $971, than in Iasi at $1,305. 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 $971 in Satu Mare to $1,305 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.