😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,183 in Stellenbosch versus $1,060 in Focsani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,949 in Stellenbosch versus $1,708 in Focsani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,715 in Stellenbosch versus $2,356 in Focsani.
🌍Living in Stellenbosch is roughly 12% more expensive than in Focsani, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Stellenbosch14% lower, Focsani23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.17R 118
$7.79RON 35.72
-7.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.86R 604
$44.04RON 202
-16.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.02R 82.2
$7.71RON 35.39
-34.89%
Cappuccino
$2.09R 34.22
$2.52RON 11.56
-17.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.75
$1.99RON 9.15
-48.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79R 12.99
$1.72RON 7.91
-54.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73R 44.71
$1.93RON 8.83
41.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20R 52.4
$2.69RON 12.35
18.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34R 21.88
$1.81RON 8.33
-25.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16R 19.07
$1.14RON 5.24
1.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90R 31.09
$1.36RON 6.23
39.71%
Eggs
$2.99R 48.99
$3.27RON 15.01
-8.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.72R 143
$9.31RON 42.72
-6.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.82R 95.4
$7.21RON 33.06
-19.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54R 123
$10.87RON 49.88
-30.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74R 28.44
$1.28RON 5.89
35.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44R 23.59
$1.65RON 7.59
-12.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77R 28.92
$1.63RON 7.47
8.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58R 25.83
$2.29RON 10.49
-31.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09R 17.92
$0.88RON 4.04
23.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52R 24.89
$0.77RON 3.52
97.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37R 22.44
$0.64RON 2.92
114.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16R 18.96
$0.74RON 3.39
56.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78R 62.0
$6.09RON 27.95
-37.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.11R 100
$4.45RON 20.44
37.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42R 23.18
$1.21RON 5.54
17.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16R 35.40
$1.58RON 7.27
36.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.86RON 3.94
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$16.82RON 77.2
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.59R 9.66
$0.68RON 3.12
-13.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52R 24.83
$0.64RON 2.92
137.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.23R 85.6
$6.50RON 29.81
-19.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40R 22.87
$1.79RON 8.21
-21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KR 585.0K
$26.6KRON 121.9K
34.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KR 516.7K
$25.9KRON 118.8K
21.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101R 1,661
$178RON 816
-42.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.91R 506
$8.43RON 38.69
266.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.89R 571
$10.03RON 46.02
247.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.26R 479
$29.24RON 134
0.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14R 281
$38.02RON 174
-54.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09R 149
$8.72RON 40.02
4.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266R 4,358
$325RON 1,491
-18.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,359R 38.6K
$14.8KRON 68.0K
-84.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1R 870
$93.9RON 431
-43.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.95R 491
$39.77RON 182
-24.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120R 1,958
$82.4RON 378
45.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1R 1,508
$97.8RON 449
-5.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696R 11.4K
$396RON 1,817
75.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$486R 7,960
$302RON 1,387
60.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,464R 24.0K
$958RON 4,395
52.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187R 19.4K
$671RON 3,077
77.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,124RON 5,159
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$924RON 4,242
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stellenbosch
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,620R 42.9K
$707RON 3,245
270.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.7
6.76
58.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stellenbosch: September 14, 2026
Last update for Focsani: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Stellenbosch and $396 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stellenbosch pays 270% 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: $37.00 in Stellenbosch vs $44.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $213 per month, with Stellenbosch cheaper across the board.
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
Stellenbosch vs Focsani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Stellenbosch or Focsani?
Focsani wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Stellenbosch. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Focsani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Stellenbosch or in Focsani?
Average pay runs 270% higher in Stellenbosch, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Stellenbosch compared to Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Stellenbosch versus $396 in Focsani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Stellenbosch or in Focsani?
Shoppers in Stellenbosch pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Stellenbosch compared to Focsani?
All in, you'll spend $1,183 per month in Stellenbosch versus $1,060 in Focsani – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Stellenbosch or in Focsani?
At $1,060 in Focsani versus $1,183 in Stellenbosch, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Focsani but tight or insufficient in Stellenbosch. The gap between the two cities makes Focsani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Stellenbosch or Focsani?
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 Focsani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Stellenbosch. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Stellenbosch vs other spots: cost of living compared