😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,214 in Timisoara versus $1,141 in Ploiesti.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Timisoara versus $1,740 in Ploiesti.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,523 in Timisoara versus $2,338 in Ploiesti.
🌍Living in Timisoara is roughly 6% more expensive than in Ploiesti, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Timisoara12% lower, Ploiesti17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.90RON 49.25
$12.22RON 55.2
-10.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.31RON 218
$48.81RON 220
-1.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.66RON 39.10
$8.12RON 36.69
6.65%
Cappuccino
$3.18RON 14.37
$3.03RON 13.70
4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16RON 9.74
$2.20RON 9.93
-1.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69RON 7.65
$2.22RON 10.01
-23.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60RON 11.76
$2.69RON 12.16
-3.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.33RON 19.55
$3.43RON 15.48
26.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50RON 6.76
$1.73RON 7.81
-13.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32RON 5.98
$1.19RON 5.39
10.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39RON 6.28
$1.58RON 7.12
-12.03%
Eggs
$3.01RON 13.58
$3.33RON 15.03
-9.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.06RON 40.92
$8.11RON 36.64
11.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.45RON 29.11
$7.19RON 32.48
-10.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.54RON 52.1
$9.59RON 43.33
20.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20RON 5.42
$1.37RON 6.21
-12.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59RON 7.19
$1.73RON 7.80
-8.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.02
$1.53RON 6.89
1.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52RON 11.38
$2.06RON 9.30
22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78RON 3.53
$0.76RON 3.41
2.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03RON 4.67
$0.79RON 3.55
30.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72RON 3.25
$0.72RON 3.24
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83RON 3.73
$0.81RON 3.66
2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71RON 30.32
$6.71RON 30.31
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69RON 34.71
$7.03RON 31.77
9.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21RON 5.46
$0.99RON 4.48
22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78RON 8.04
$1.47RON 6.62
21.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12RON 5.05
$0.90RON 4.08
24.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.80RON 162
$22.43RON 101
59.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.84RON 3.81
$0.64RON 2.88
31.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.89
$0.63RON 2.84
36.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.98RON 40.55
$6.72RON 30.33
33.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.86RON 8.38
$1.83RON 8.29
1.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KRON 132.4K
$30.1KRON 135.9K
-2.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4KRON 114.6K
$25.9KRON 116.8K
-1.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176RON 793
$161RON 728
8.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.89RON 31.11
$6.56RON 29.61
5.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.25RON 41.77
$8.91RON 40.23
3.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.89RON 185
$45.86RON 207
-10.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.41RON 74.1
$22.11RON 99.9
-25.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.83RON 39.87
$8.80RON 39.76
0.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$625RON 2,824
$423RON 1,911
47.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,074RON 41.0K
$6,043RON 27.3K
50.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.6RON 360
$75.8RON 342
5.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.93RON 189
$44.38RON 200
-5.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7RON 364
$94.7RON 428
-14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7RON 419
$99.6RON 450
-6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$565RON 2,551
$434RON 1,959
30.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376RON 1,699
$301RON 1,361
24.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$871RON 3,932
$614RON 2,772
41.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646RON 2,916
$480RON 2,170
34.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,637RON 11.9K
$1,983RON 8,958
32.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,947RON 8,796
$1,272RON 5,744
53.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timisoara
Ploiesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,222RON 5,520
$1,023RON 4,620
19.48%
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 Ploiesti: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $565 in Timisoara and $434 in Ploiesti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Timisoara pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Timisoara vs $49.00 in Ploiesti. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $210, with Ploiesti cheaper for home cooking.
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
Which city is more expensive, Timisoara or Ploiesti?
Ploiesti wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Timisoara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ploiesti the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Timisoara or in Ploiesti?
Average pay runs 19% 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: $565 in Timisoara versus $434 in Ploiesti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Timisoara and in Ploiesti?
Dining out is cheaper in Ploiesti – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $48.00 in Timisoara. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Timisoara compared to Ploiesti?
All in, you'll spend $1,214 per month in Timisoara versus $1,141 in Ploiesti – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Timisoara or in Ploiesti?
At $1,141 in Ploiesti versus $1,214 in Timisoara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ploiesti but tight or insufficient in Timisoara. The gap between the two cities makes Ploiesti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Timisoara or Ploiesti?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ploiesti delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,141 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ploiesti 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ploiesti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.