Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Calafat Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Calafat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,150 per month in Timisoara vs $1,050 in Calafat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,792 per month in Timisoara vs $1,566 in Calafat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,435 per month in Timisoara vs $2,083 in Calafat, rent included.

Timisoara costs about 10% more than Calafat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Timisoara and Calafat are more affordable than the global median – Timisoara 14% lower, Calafat 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.04 RON 40.86
$9.05 RON 40.93
-0.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 RON 264
$40.83 RON 185
43.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 RON 36.09
$8.01 RON 36.22
-0.37%
Cappuccino
$3.13 RON 14.16
$2.37 RON 10.71
32.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 RON 9.84
$0.94 RON 4.27
131.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 8.97
$0.88 RON 3.97
125.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 RON 12.31
$1.18 RON 5.32
130.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 RON 15.83
$2.03 RON 9.20
72.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 6.93
$1.26 RON 5.68
21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 RON 5.78
$0.88 RON 3.98
45.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 RON 6.75
$1.47 RON 6.63
1.36%
Eggs
$3.24 RON 14.63
$2.51 RON 11.36
29.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.76 RON 44.13
$7.35 RON 33.24
32.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.41 RON 28.99
$6.76 RON 30.57
-5.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 RON 51.4
$6.75 RON 30.53
68.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.09 RON 4.92
$1.12 RON 5.05
-2.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.87
$1.58 RON 7.15
-3.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 RON 7.03
$1.36 RON 6.13
13.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 RON 11.68
$1.65 RON 7.45
56.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 RON 3.54
$0.70 RON 3.17
11.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 RON 4.41
$0.84 RON 3.79
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 RON 3.01
$0.79 RON 3.58
-15.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 RON 3.33
$0.74 RON 3.36
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 RON 26.46
$5.80 RON 26.23
0.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.95 RON 35.92
$5.92 RON 26.75
34.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 RON 5.44
$0.94 RON 4.23
27.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RON 7.75
$2.05 RON 9.29
-16.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 RON 4.29
$0.66 RON 2.97
43.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.04 RON 136
$19.93 RON 90.1
50.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 RON 4.06
$0.56 RON 2.54
60.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 RON 3.75
$0.53 RON 2.41
56.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.18 RON 32.48
$6.77 RON 30.62
6.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 RON 7.11
$1.59 RON 7.19
-1.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K RON 124.2K
$28.3K RON 127.8K
-2.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K RON 120.5K
$27.6K RON 124.6K
-3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 RON 627
$212 RON 960
-34.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.33 RON 37.67
$8.19 RON 37.03
1.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.19 RON 41.53
$7.09 RON 32.07
29.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.01 RON 194
$41.54 RON 188
3.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00 RON 67.8
$18.88 RON 85.4
-20.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.99 RON 36.13
$6.44 RON 29.12
24.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 RON 2,218
$432 RON 1,951
13.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K RON 46.5K
$9,010 RON 40.7K
14.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7 RON 356
$80.3 RON 363
-2.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.23 RON 195
$37.30 RON 169
15.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 RON 374
$77.8 RON 352
6.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9 RON 429
$86.3 RON 390
9.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 RON 2,238
$384 RON 1,737
28.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 RON 1,620
$290 RON 1,311
23.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$740 RON 3,345
$579 RON 2,619
27.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 RON 2,742
$434 RON 1,960
39.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,652 RON 12.0K
$1,834 RON 8,291
44.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,964 RON 8,880
$1,352 RON 6,111
45.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,217 RON 5,502
$860 RON 3,888
41.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.66
6
11.00%

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

Last update for Timisoara: May 31, 2026

Last update for Calafat: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Timisoara versus $384 in Calafat. 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 41% higher in Timisoara, 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 $58.0 in Timisoara versus $41.00 in Calafat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $179 – making Calafat 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
Timisoara vs Calafat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Timisoara and Calafat compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,150 in Timisoara, $1,050 in Calafat – roughly 10% apart. Timisoara costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Timisoara compared to Calafat?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,725 per month in Timisoara and $1,575 in Calafat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Timisoara and Calafat?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calafat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Timisoara or Calafat?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,150 in Timisoara and $1,050 in Calafat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Timisoara and Calafat?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Calafat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calafat, where all-in costs run around $1,050, than in Timisoara at $1,150. In Calafat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Timisoara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Timisoara and Calafat?
It depends on your priorities. Timisoara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,050 in Calafat to $1,150 in Timisoara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Timisoara or Calafat safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Timisoara and Calafat?
If budget matters most, go with Calafat. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Timisoara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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