Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Alba Iulia Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Alba Iulia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,130 in Timisoara versus $945 in Alba Iulia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Timisoara versus $1,438 in Alba Iulia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,397 in Timisoara versus $1,931 in Alba Iulia.

Living in Timisoara is roughly 20% more expensive than in Alba Iulia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Timisoara 15% lower, Alba Iulia 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.26 RON 42.11

$9.42 RON 42.82

-1.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 RON 262

$34.74 RON 158

65.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 RON 36.00

$6.17 RON 28.07

28.36%

Cappuccino

$3.19 RON 14.50

$2.53 RON 11.51

26.09%

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

$2.28 RON 10.38

$1.96 RON 8.92

16.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 RON 9.04

$1.58 RON 7.20

25.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.69 RON 12.23

$2.16 RON 9.81

24.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 RON 15.30

$2.37 RON 10.76

42.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 RON 6.96

$1.35 RON 6.12

13.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 RON 5.95

$1.25 RON 5.67

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 RON 6.88

$1.56 RON 7.11

-3.21%

Eggs

$3.20 RON 14.53

$2.99 RON 13.58

7.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 RON 43.70

$8.54 RON 38.82

12.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.43 RON 29.25

$6.47 RON 29.42

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.51 RON 52.3

$11.65 RON 53.0

-1.20%

Apples (1kg)

$1.09 RON 4.94

$0.97 RON 4.41

12.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.14

$1.42 RON 6.47

10.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.29

$1.36 RON 6.20

17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.59 RON 11.78

$2.49 RON 11.33

4.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.25

$0.78 RON 3.55

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.49

$0.64 RON 2.92

54.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 RON 3.26

$0.92 RON 4.20

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RON 3.60

$0.66 RON 2.98

19.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 RON 26.75

$5.68 RON 25.80

3.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.56 RON 34.39

$4.48 RON 20.36

68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 RON 5.69

$1.11 RON 5.04

12.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 RON 7.84

$1.35 RON 6.12

27.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 RON 4.39

$0.83 RON 3.77

16.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.76 RON 135

$17.54 RON 79.7

69.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 RON 3.87

$0.76 RON 3.45

11.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 RON 3.79

$0.74 RON 3.38

12.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 RON 33.26

$5.19 RON 23.60

41.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.66 RON 7.54

$1.51 RON 6.87

9.93%

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

$28.3K RON 128.5K

$27.8K RON 126.4K

1.67%

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

$26.8K RON 121.8K

$27.4K RON 124.5K

-2.15%

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

$140 RON 636

$136 RON 617

3.14%

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

$8.29 RON 37.67

$8.10 RON 36.81

2.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.39 RON 42.71

$8.90 RON 40.48

5.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.69 RON 194

$31.77 RON 144

34.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.17 RON 69.0

$34.58 RON 157

-56.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 RON 35.65

$5.55 RON 25.24

41.26%

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

$496 RON 2,255

$458 RON 2,081

8.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K RON 46.1K

$6,684 RON 30.4K

51.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 RON 357

$43.25 RON 197

81.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.72 RON 194

$25.59 RON 116

66.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 RON 375

$82.3 RON 374

0.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.2 RON 438

$69.6 RON 316

38.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 RON 2,223

$323 RON 1,468

51.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 RON 1,614

$276 RON 1,255

28.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$717 RON 3,261

$555 RON 2,522

29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 RON 2,725

$442 RON 2,010

35.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,689 RON 12.2K

$1,670 RON 7,594

60.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,949 RON 8,862

$1,416 RON 6,436

37.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,206 RON 5,483

$937 RON 4,259

28.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

7.7

-13.51%

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

Last update for Timisoara: July 28, 2026

Last update for Alba Iulia: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $489 in Timisoara and $323 in Alba Iulia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 29% 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: $58.0 in Timisoara vs $35.00 in Alba Iulia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $201 per month, with Alba Iulia 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

Timisoara vs Alba Iulia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alba Iulia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% higher in Timisoara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $489 in Timisoara versus $323 in Alba Iulia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,130 per month in Timisoara versus $945 in Alba Iulia – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alba Iulia runs roughly 70% less than in Timisoara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $945 in Alba Iulia versus $1,130 in Timisoara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Alba Iulia but tight or insufficient in Timisoara. The gap between the two cities makes Alba Iulia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Alba Iulia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Timisoara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Timisoara and Alba Iulia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Alba Iulia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.