Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Baia Mare

For one person, living is cheaper in Baia Mare: $935 a month against $1,197 in Timisoara, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Timisoara, Romania
Baia Mare, Romania
Timisoara
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,197
/mo nomad
Baia Mare
🇷🇴 Romania
$935
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Timisoara and in Baia Mare

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Timisoara and in Baia Mare actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Timisoara versus $935 in Baia Mare.

  • Timisoara $1,197
  • Baia Mare $935

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,776 in Timisoara versus $1,452 in Baia Mare.

  • Timisoara $1,776
  • Baia Mare $1,452

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,354 in Timisoara versus $1,969 in Baia Mare.

  • Timisoara $2,354
  • Baia Mare $1,969

Living in Timisoara is roughly 28% more expensive than in Baia Mare, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Timisoara 12% lower, Baia Mare 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.67 RON 50.9
$12.65 RON 60.3
-15.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.25 RON 220
$33.09 RON 158
39.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 RON 40.37
$8.19 RON 39.06
3.42%
Cappuccino
$3.03 RON 14.45
$2.08 RON 9.91
45.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 RON 10.84
$1.81 RON 8.64
25.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 RON 8.11
$1.39 RON 6.63
22.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.02 RON 14.40
$1.61 RON 7.67
87.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11 RON 19.60
$2.16 RON 10.28
90.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 RON 6.41
$1.46 RON 6.96
-8.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 RON 5.76
$1.40 RON 6.70
-13.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 RON 6.67
$1.91 RON 9.11
-26.70%
Eggs
$2.96 RON 14.10
$2.83 RON 13.50
4.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 RON 40.15
$6.15 RON 29.31
36.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.99 RON 28.55
$7.49 RON 35.68
-20.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 RON 52.1
$10.80 RON 51.5
1.20%
Apples (1kg)
$1.14 RON 5.43
$1.10 RON 5.26
3.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 RON 7.05
$1.47 RON 6.99
0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 RON 6.81
$1.34 RON 6.38
6.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 RON 11.21
$2.75 RON 13.13
-14.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.77
$0.90 RON 4.30
-12.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.63
$1.19 RON 5.68
-18.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 RON 3.19
$1.23 RON 5.88
-45.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 RON 3.74
$0.82 RON 3.90
-4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.27 RON 29.87
$6.13 RON 29.24
2.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.49 RON 35.68
$4.84 RON 23.07
54.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 RON 5.37
$1.00 RON 4.75
13.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 RON 8.25
$1.61 RON 7.67
7.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.07 RON 5.10
$0.71 RON 3.37
50.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.44 RON 159
$14.43 RON 68.8
131.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 RON 4.07
$1.08 RON 5.16
-21.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 RON 4.14
$1.05 RON 5.01
-17.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.45 RON 40.28
$11.07 RON 52.8
-23.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 RON 9.17
$1.74 RON 8.31
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K RON 137.8K
$28.6K RON 136.2K
1.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K RON 118.2K
$25.2K RON 120.1K
-1.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 RON 802
$106 RON 507
58.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.66 RON 31.74
$16.31 RON 77.8
-59.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.70 RON 41.46
$11.53 RON 55.0
-24.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.29 RON 192
$40.97 RON 195
-1.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.69 RON 74.8
$16.25 RON 77.5
-3.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.58 RON 36.13
$10.04 RON 47.84
-24.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$584 RON 2,784
$522 RON 2,488
11.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,511 RON 40.6K
$5,465 RON 26.1K
55.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6 RON 351
$37.45 RON 179
96.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.99 RON 186
$42.17 RON 201
-7.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 RON 371
$62.5 RON 298
24.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6 RON 427
$74.9 RON 357
19.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$569 RON 2,712
$377 RON 1,799
50.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$404 RON 1,928
$267 RON 1,273
51.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$803 RON 3,828
$603 RON 2,875
33.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 RON 2,862
$461 RON 2,198
30.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,692 RON 12.8K
$2,190 RON 10.4K
22.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 RON 8,973
$1,479 RON 7,051
27.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Baia Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,209 RON 5,762
$908 RON 4,327
33.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.88
7.48
-8.02%

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

Last update for Timisoara: October 25, 2026

Last update for Baia Mare: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
$404
Baia Mare
$255 36.8% $149
Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
$202
Baia Mare
$199 1.5% $3
Eating Out
Timisoara
$184
Baia Mare
$175 4.6% $8.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
$183
Baia Mare
$129 29.4% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
$126
Baia Mare
$97 22.6% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
$56
Baia Mare
$57 2.9% $1.6
Getting Around
Timisoara
$43
Baia Mare
$22 49.3% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $568 in Timisoara and $368 in Baia Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 35% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $46 in Timisoara vs $33 in Baia Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $199 per month, with Baia Mare cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Timisoara
🇷🇴 Baia Mare
🕒 Local time
12:57 12:57 PM
12:57 12:57 PM
Same time as Timisoara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
319,279
123,738
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 4.77 RON (1 RON = 0.21 USD). 1 EUR = 5.34 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Timisoara Baia Mare 280 km
From you
  • Timisoara
  • Baia Mare

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Baia Mare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baia Mare cheaper than Timisoara?
Baia Mare is about 22% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, transport, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Timisoara or Baia Mare?
Average pay runs 35% higher in Timisoara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Timisoara and Baia Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $568 in Timisoara versus $368 in Baia Mare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Baia Mare runs roughly 57% less than in Timisoara. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What are total monthly expenses in Timisoara and in Baia Mare?
All in, you’ll spend $1,197 per month in Timisoara versus $935 in Baia Mare – Baia Mare is about 22% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Timisoara or in Baia Mare?
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 safer, Timisoara or Baia Mare?
Safety-wise, Timisoara and Baia Mare are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Baia Mare wins on affordability, Timisoara on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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