Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Calarasi

For one person, living is cheaper in Calarasi: $884 a month against $1,158 in Timisoara, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Timisoara
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,158
/mo nomad
Calarasi
🇷🇴 Romania
$884
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Timisoara and in Calarasi

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 Calarasi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,158 per month in Timisoara vs $884 in Calarasi, rent included.

  • Timisoara $1,158
  • Calarasi $884

A couple spends around $1,757 per month in Timisoara vs $1,371 in Calarasi, rent included.

  • Timisoara $1,757
  • Calarasi $1,371

A family of three spends $2,355 per month in Timisoara vs $1,858 in Calarasi, rent included.

  • Timisoara $2,355
  • Calarasi $1,858

Timisoara costs about 31% more than Calarasi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Timisoara and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Timisoara 15% lower, Calarasi 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.56 RON 49.97
$8.99 RON 42.55
17.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.44 RON 215
$34.27 RON 162
32.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.35 RON 39.51
$7.82 RON 37.01
6.78%
Cappuccino
$2.93 RON 13.87
$2.09 RON 9.90
40.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 RON 10.11
$1.85 RON 8.77
15.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 RON 7.85
$1.63 RON 7.73
1.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 RON 12.77
$1.62 RON 7.65
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 RON 20.22
$1.49 RON 7.04
186.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 RON 6.58
$1.45 RON 6.88
-4.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 RON 5.71
$0.96 RON 4.52
26.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 RON 6.31
$1.49 RON 7.06
-10.74%
Eggs
$2.81 RON 13.32
$2.75 RON 13.00
2.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.37 RON 39.61
$7.59 RON 35.91
10.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.09 RON 28.81
$4.16 RON 19.69
46.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.02 RON 52.2
$8.62 RON 40.77
27.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 RON 5.42
$1.10 RON 5.19
4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 RON 6.86
$1.39 RON 6.59
4.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 RON 6.94
$1.27 RON 6.02
15.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 RON 11.07
$1.45 RON 6.87
61.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.74 RON 3.50
$0.43 RON 2.06
72.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 RON 4.44
$0.60 RON 2.85
56.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 RON 3.17
$0.40 RON 1.89
67.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 RON 3.66
$0.77 RON 3.65
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.17 RON 29.17
$6.27 RON 29.65
-1.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.52 RON 35.58
$4.19 RON 19.84
79.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 RON 5.44
$0.98 RON 4.64
17.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 RON 8.31
$1.39 RON 6.58
26.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 RON 4.85
$0.44 RON 2.08
131.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.21 RON 162
$12.59 RON 59.6
171.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 RON 4.10
$0.60 RON 2.85
45.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 RON 3.87
$0.61 RON 2.87
34.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.54 RON 40.39
$6.21 RON 29.37
37.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 RON 8.90
$1.63 RON 7.74
15.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8K RON 136.3K
$28.1K RON 132.8K
2.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K RON 116.8K
$25.1K RON 118.6K
-1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$168 RON 793
$164 RON 777
2.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.42 RON 30.37
$6.23 RON 29.48
3.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.59 RON 40.62
$6.75 RON 31.92
27.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.76 RON 183
$47.96 RON 227
-19.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.71 RON 74.3
$53.2 RON 252
-70.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.26 RON 39.10
$8.23 RON 38.94
0.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$583 RON 2,757
$399 RON 1,888
46.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,838 RON 41.8K
$5,817 RON 27.5K
51.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.7 RON 349
$73.4 RON 347
0.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.19 RON 190
$21.12 RON 99.9
90.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.1 RON 360
$90.8 RON 430
-16.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 RON 419
$96.8 RON 458
-8.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 RON 2,528
$310 RON 1,465
72.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 RON 1,731
$186 RON 880
96.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 RON 3,987
$414 RON 1,958
103.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 RON 2,872
$321 RON 1,517
89.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,572 RON 12.2K
$1,187 RON 5,614
116.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,886 RON 8,924
$946 RON 4,474
99.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Calarasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,147 RON 5,427
$714 RON 3,380
60.56%
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: October 17, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
$366
Calarasi
$186 49.2% $180
Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
$204
Calarasi
$166 18.4% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
$183
Calarasi
$177 3% $5.5
Eating Out
Timisoara
$182
Calarasi
$146 20% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
$125
Calarasi
$127 1.3% $1.6
Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
$55
Calarasi
$64 16.5% $9.1
Getting Around
Timisoara
$43
Calarasi
$18 58.4% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Timisoara versus $310 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 61% 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 $45.00 in Timisoara versus $34.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $166 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Timisoara
🇷🇴 Calarasi
🕒 Local time
16:19 4:19 PM
16:19 4:19 PM
Same time as Timisoara
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
319,279
65,181
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Timisoara Calarasi 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Timisoara
  • Calarasi

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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Timisoara and in Calarasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,158 in Timisoara, $884 in Calarasi – roughly 31% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Timisoara compared to Calarasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,737 per month in Timisoara and $1,326 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 $583 per month in Timisoara and $399 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 23% 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 $884, than in Timisoara at $1,158. 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 $884 in Calarasi to $1,158 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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