Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Calarasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Calarasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,214 per month in Timisoara vs $901 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Timisoara vs $1,391 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,523 per month in Timisoara vs $1,881 in Calarasi, rent included.

Timisoara costs about 35% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Timisoara and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Timisoara 12% lower, Calarasi 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90 RON 49.27
$7.66 RON 34.63
42.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.31 RON 218
$27.04 RON 122
78.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.66 RON 39.11
$8.11 RON 36.62
6.78%
Cappuccino
$3.18 RON 14.37
$2.14 RON 9.69
48.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 RON 9.74
$1.45 RON 6.54
48.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 RON 7.65
$1.82 RON 8.23
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 RON 11.76
$1.07 RON 4.84
142.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33 RON 19.56
$1.51 RON 6.82
186.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 RON 6.76
$1.59 RON 7.20
-5.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 RON 5.99
$0.94 RON 4.26
40.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 RON 6.29
$1.62 RON 7.30
-14.20%
Eggs
$3.01 RON 13.58
$2.99 RON 13.53
0.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.06 RON 40.93
$8.38 RON 37.85
8.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 RON 29.12
$4.31 RON 19.47
49.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.54 RON 52.1
$8.58 RON 38.76
34.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 RON 5.42
$1.14 RON 5.16
5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 RON 7.19
$1.48 RON 6.69
7.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 RON 7.03
$1.32 RON 5.95
18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 RON 11.38
$1.58 RON 7.13
59.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 RON 3.53
$0.42 RON 1.89
85.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 RON 4.67
$0.64 RON 2.91
60.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 RON 3.26
$0.45 RON 2.04
60.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 RON 3.73
$0.82 RON 3.69
1.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71 RON 30.33
$6.73 RON 30.39
-0.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 RON 34.72
$4.32 RON 19.50
78.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 RON 5.46
$1.03 RON 4.67
17.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 RON 8.04
$1.51 RON 6.82
17.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 RON 5.06
$0.45 RON 2.04
148.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.80 RON 162
$13.12 RON 59.3
172.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 RON 3.82
$0.67 RON 3.04
25.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.86 RON 3.89
$0.64 RON 2.89
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.98 RON 40.56
$6.78 RON 30.63
32.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 RON 8.38
$1.76 RON 7.93
5.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K RON 132.5K
$29.7K RON 134.2K
-1.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K RON 114.6K
$26.6K RON 120.4K
-4.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 RON 793
$165 RON 746
6.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.89 RON 31.12
$6.77 RON 30.56
1.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.25 RON 41.78
$6.93 RON 31.29
33.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.89 RON 185
$49.67 RON 224
-17.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41 RON 74.2
$55.7 RON 251
-70.51%
Cinema Ticket
$8.83 RON 39.88
$8.95 RON 40.43
-1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$625 RON 2,825
$423 RON 1,909
47.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,074 RON 41.0K
$6,032 RON 27.3K
50.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6 RON 360
$76.0 RON 344
4.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.93 RON 189
$22.21 RON 100
88.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 RON 364
$96.2 RON 434
-16.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 RON 419
$99.4 RON 449
-6.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$565 RON 2,552
$330 RON 1,493
70.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 RON 1,699
$201 RON 909
86.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$871 RON 3,933
$448 RON 2,025
94.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 RON 2,917
$336 RON 1,519
92.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,637 RON 11.9K
$1,240 RON 5,601
112.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,947 RON 8,798
$969 RON 4,378
100.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,222 RON 5,521
$773 RON 3,493
58.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.88
7.85
-12.36%

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

Last update for Timisoara: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $565 in Timisoara versus $330 in Calarasi. 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 58% 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 $48.00 in Timisoara versus $27.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $175 – making Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Timisoara and in Calarasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,214 in Timisoara, $901 in Calarasi – roughly 35% apart. Timisoara costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Timisoara compared to Calarasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,821 per month in Timisoara and $1,352 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Timisoara and Calarasi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Timisoara and Calarasi?
Kindergarten costs $625 per month in Timisoara and $423 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Timisoara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Timisoara at $1,214. In Calarasi 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 Calarasi?
It depends on your priorities. Timisoara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $901 in Calarasi to $1,214 in Timisoara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Timisoara or Calarasi 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 Calarasi?
If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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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