🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Timisoara versus $1,116 in Ploiesti.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,748 in Timisoara versus $1,620 in Ploiesti.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,380 in Timisoara versus $2,124 in Ploiesti.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Timisoara and Ploiesti; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Timisoara17% lower, Ploiesti16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.35RON 42.92
$9.73RON 44.64
-3.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5RON 264
$41.83RON 192
37.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88RON 36.17
$7.73RON 35.49
1.94%
Cappuccino
$3.26RON 14.98
$2.61RON 11.99
24.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17RON 9.94
$1.91RON 8.77
13.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.98
$1.86RON 8.53
5.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84RON 13.02
$2.26RON 10.36
25.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55RON 16.28
$3.38RON 15.52
5.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52RON 6.99
$1.36RON 6.26
11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32RON 6.08
$1.10RON 5.03
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50RON 6.91
$1.69RON 7.75
-11.24%
Eggs
$3.14RON 14.43
$3.33RON 15.27
-5.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.23RON 42.35
$8.93RON 41.01
3.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.44RON 29.56
$7.12RON 32.67
-9.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.35RON 52.1
$8.89RON 40.81
27.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.12RON 5.16
$1.21RON 5.55
-7.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.22
$1.47RON 6.74
6.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54RON 7.05
$1.34RON 6.16
14.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47RON 11.35
$1.88RON 8.63
31.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72RON 3.28
$0.76RON 3.49
-5.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98RON 4.51
$0.94RON 4.30
4.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69RON 3.15
$0.70RON 3.24
-1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RON 3.58
$0.86RON 3.95
-9.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.92RON 27.15
$5.74RON 26.33
3.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.50RON 34.45
$6.94RON 31.88
8.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21RON 5.55
$0.96RON 4.41
26.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RON 7.94
$1.42RON 6.52
21.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95RON 4.34
$0.60RON 2.77
58.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.48RON 135
$19.56RON 89.8
50.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.89RON 4.08
$0.72RON 3.29
23.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.95
$0.62RON 2.83
38.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.34RON 33.67
$5.64RON 25.89
30.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.35
$1.60RON 7.35
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 130.7K
$24.6KRON 113.1K
15.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 120.8K
$27.7KRON 127.3K
-5.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136RON 626
$146RON 670
-6.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.39RON 38.51
$8.18RON 37.57
2.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.53RON 43.74
$10.12RON 46.45
-5.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.81RON 201
$51.7RON 237
-15.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17RON 69.7
$20.49RON 94.1
-25.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10RON 37.19
$7.10RON 32.57
14.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$501RON 2,299
$424RON 1,948
17.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KRON 46.2K
$6,977RON 32.0K
44.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3RON 355
$82.5RON 378
-6.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.28RON 194
$42.96RON 197
-1.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.3RON 373
$75.7RON 347
7.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.7RON 444
$96.5RON 443
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499RON 2,290
$532RON 2,443
-6.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$350RON 1,607
$338RON 1,552
3.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$743RON 3,410
$764RON 3,507
-2.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$587RON 2,697
$471RON 2,161
24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,650RON 12.2K
$1,986RON 9,116
33.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,916RON 8,796
$1,251RON 5,741
53.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,238RON 5,681
$1,022RON 4,693
21.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.66
6.62
0.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Timisoara: July 11, 2026
Last update for Ploiesti: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Timisoara and $532 in Ploiesti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Timisoara pays 21% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Timisoara vs $42.00 in Ploiesti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $202 per month, with Ploiesti cheaper across the board.
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 Ploiesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Timisoara or in Ploiesti?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Timisoara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Timisoara compared to Ploiesti?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Timisoara versus $532 in Ploiesti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Timisoara and in Ploiesti?
Childcare runs $501 in Timisoara versus $424 in Ploiesti. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Timisoara and in Ploiesti?
Dining out is cheaper in Timisoara – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $42.00 in Ploiesti. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Timisoara or in Ploiesti?
At $1,115 in Timisoara versus $1,116 in Ploiesti, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Timisoara but tight or insufficient in Ploiesti. The gap between the two cities makes Timisoara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Timisoara or Ploiesti?
Both work as nomad bases, but Timisoara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,115 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Timisoara hard to pass up.
How safe is Timisoara compared to Ploiesti?
Safety-wise, Timisoara and Ploiesti are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Should I move to Timisoara or to Ploiesti?
It comes down to priorities – Timisoara wins on affordability, Ploiesti on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.