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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,115 per month in Timisoara vs $1,025 in Calafat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,748 per month in Timisoara vs $1,549 in Calafat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,380 per month in Timisoara vs $2,073 in Calafat, rent included.

Timisoara costs about 9% more than Calafat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Timisoara and Calafat are more affordable than the global median – Timisoara 17% lower, Calafat 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35 RON 42.88
$9.44 RON 43.29
-0.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5 RON 264
$41.31 RON 189
39.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 RON 36.14
$8.11 RON 37.19
-2.84%
Cappuccino
$3.26 RON 14.97
$2.37 RON 10.86
37.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 RON 9.93
$0.87 RON 4.01
149.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 RON 8.97
$0.94 RON 4.29
108.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.84 RON 13.01
$1.17 RON 5.36
142.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 RON 16.26
$2.10 RON 9.63
69.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 RON 6.98
$1.30 RON 5.96
16.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 RON 6.07
$0.82 RON 3.75
60.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 RON 6.90
$1.48 RON 6.80
1.35%
Eggs
$3.14 RON 14.42
$2.60 RON 11.93
20.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.23 RON 42.31
$7.44 RON 34.12
24.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.44 RON 29.54
$6.47 RON 29.67
-0.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.35 RON 52.1
$6.94 RON 31.82
63.54%
Apples (1kg)
$1.12 RON 5.15
$1.13 RON 5.18
-0.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.21
$1.64 RON 7.52
-4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 RON 7.04
$1.39 RON 6.38
10.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 RON 11.34
$1.65 RON 7.58
49.70%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 RON 3.28
$0.70 RON 3.23
2.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 RON 4.51
$0.78 RON 3.59
25.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 RON 3.15
$0.77 RON 3.54
-10.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 RON 3.58
$0.75 RON 3.46
4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92 RON 27.13
$5.74 RON 26.32
3.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.50 RON 34.41
$5.93 RON 27.20
26.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 RON 5.54
$0.93 RON 4.27
30.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 RON 7.93
$2.12 RON 9.73
-18.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 RON 4.34
$0.68 RON 3.10
39.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.48 RON 135
$19.55 RON 89.7
50.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 RON 4.08
$0.56 RON 2.57
58.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 RON 3.95
$0.54 RON 2.48
59.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.34 RON 33.64
$6.94 RON 31.81
5.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.60 RON 7.34
$1.61 RON 7.38
-0.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K RON 130.5K
$28.2K RON 129.3K
0.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K RON 120.7K
$27.3K RON 125.1K
-3.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 RON 626
$210 RON 963
-34.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.39 RON 38.48
$8.21 RON 37.64
2.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.53 RON 43.70
$6.77 RON 31.03
40.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.81 RON 201
$42.16 RON 193
3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17 RON 69.6
$19.48 RON 89.3
-22.13%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 RON 37.16
$6.52 RON 29.91
24.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 RON 2,297
$434 RON 1,992
15.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.1K RON 46.2K
$8,950 RON 41.0K
12.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3 RON 355
$77.8 RON 357
-0.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.28 RON 194
$36.84 RON 169
14.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 RON 373
$78.6 RON 361
3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7 RON 443
$85.0 RON 390
13.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$499 RON 2,288
$394 RON 1,806
26.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 RON 1,606
$294 RON 1,347
19.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$743 RON 3,407
$581 RON 2,666
27.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$587 RON 2,694
$432 RON 1,981
35.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,650 RON 12.2K
$2,113 RON 9,689
25.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,916 RON 8,788
$1,398 RON 6,410
37.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Calafat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,238 RON 5,676
$819 RON 3,754
51.19%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Calafat: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $499 in Timisoara versus $394 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 51% 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: $215 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 in Calafat compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,115 in Timisoara, $1,025 in Calafat – roughly 9% 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 $1,673 per month in Timisoara and $1,538 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 $1,115 in Timisoara and $1,025 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 in 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 $1,025, than in Timisoara at $1,115. 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 $1,025 in Calafat to $1,115 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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