Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Satu Mare Cost of Living Comparison Between Timisoara and Satu Mare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,115 in Timisoara versus $973 in Satu Mare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,748 in Timisoara versus $1,472 in Satu Mare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,380 in Timisoara versus $1,972 in Satu Mare.

Living in Timisoara is roughly 15% more expensive than in Satu Mare, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Timisoara 17% lower, Satu Mare 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.35 RON 42.92

$9.49 RON 43.54

-1.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.5 RON 264

$46.08 RON 212

24.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 RON 36.17

$6.77 RON 31.06

16.40%

Cappuccino

$3.26 RON 14.98

$2.42 RON 11.11

34.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 RON 9.94

$1.72 RON 7.89

26.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 RON 8.98

$1.40 RON 6.42

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 RON 13.02

$2.13 RON 9.79

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 RON 16.28

$2.27 RON 10.40

56.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.99

$1.48 RON 6.81

2.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 RON 6.08

$1.13 RON 5.21

16.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 RON 6.91

$1.24 RON 5.70

20.97%

Eggs

$3.14 RON 14.43

$3.21 RON 14.75

-2.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.23 RON 42.35

$7.91 RON 36.29

16.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 RON 29.56

$6.38 RON 29.28

0.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 RON 52.1

$11.47 RON 52.7

-1.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.12 RON 5.16

$1.14 RON 5.24

-1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.22

$1.43 RON 6.57

9.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 RON 7.05

$1.42 RON 6.50

8.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RON 11.35

$1.80 RON 8.27

37.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.28

$0.72 RON 3.31

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.51

$1.01 RON 4.65

-2.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 RON 3.15

$0.68 RON 3.11

1.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 RON 27.15

$5.80 RON 26.62

2.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.50 RON 34.45

$6.55 RON 30.08

14.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 RON 5.55

$1.21 RON 5.56

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 RON 7.94

$1.72 RON 7.90

0.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 RON 4.34

$0.56 RON 2.55

69.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.48 RON 135

$25.62 RON 118

15.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 RON 4.08

$0.91 RON 4.18

-2.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 RON 3.95

$0.81 RON 3.70

6.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.34 RON 33.67

$7.35 RON 33.74

-0.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.35

$1.60 RON 7.34

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.5K RON 130.7K

$25.0K RON 114.7K

13.90%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K RON 120.8K

$26.0K RON 119.3K

1.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 RON 626

$139 RON 636

-1.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.39 RON 38.51

$8.08 RON 37.10

3.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.53 RON 43.74

$9.45 RON 43.38

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.81 RON 201

$47.91 RON 220

-8.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.17 RON 69.7

$11.58 RON 53.2

31.00%

Cinema Ticket

$8.10 RON 37.19

$6.87 RON 31.52

17.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$501 RON 2,299

$181 RON 832

176.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.1K RON 46.2K

$10.2K RON 46.6K

-0.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.3 RON 355

$65.4 RON 300

18.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 RON 194

$30.97 RON 142

36.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 RON 373

$83.7 RON 384

-2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 RON 444

$77.8 RON 357

24.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 RON 2,290

$309 RON 1,417

61.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$350 RON 1,607

$241 RON 1,105

45.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 RON 3,410

$543 RON 2,491

36.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 RON 2,697

$343 RON 1,573

71.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,650 RON 12.2K

$1,039 RON 4,771

154.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,916 RON 8,796

$1,078 RON 4,950

77.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,238 RON 5,681

$692 RON 3,174

78.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

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

Last update for Timisoara: July 11, 2026

Last update for Satu Mare: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Timisoara and $309 in Satu Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timisoara pays 79% 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: $58.0 in Timisoara vs $46.00 in Satu Mare for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $202 per month, with Satu Mare 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 Satu Mare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Satu Mare wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Timisoara. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Satu Mare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 79% higher in Timisoara, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Timisoara versus $309 in Satu Mare. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Satu Mare runs roughly 15% less than in Timisoara. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $501 in Timisoara versus $181 in Satu Mare. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $973 in Satu Mare versus $1,115 in Timisoara, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Satu Mare but tight or insufficient in Timisoara. The gap between the two cities makes Satu Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Satu Mare delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $973 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Satu Mare hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Timisoara and Satu Mare are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Satu Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Timisoara. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.