Cost of Living Comparison Between Yekaterinburg and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Yekaterinburg and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $1,305 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,068 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $1,902 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,873 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $2,499 in Iasi, rent included.

Yekaterinburg is about 3% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Yekaterinburg and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Yekaterinburg 8% lower, Iasi 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.36 ₽1,073
$11.00 RON 49.86
12.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.23 ₽4,100
$43.93 RON 199
7.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.75 ₽500
$7.83 RON 35.51
-26.56%
Cappuccino
$2.78 ₽241
$2.97 RON 13.48
-6.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₽123
$2.21 RON 10.02
-35.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₽39.35
$1.90 RON 8.61
-76.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 ₽180
$3.27 RON 14.83
-36.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₽251
$4.09 RON 18.56
-29.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 ₽90.8
$1.67 RON 7.55
-37.13%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ₽51.7
$1.43 RON 6.47
-58.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 ₽97.8
$2.15 RON 9.74
-47.44%
Eggs
$1.46 ₽127
$3.52 RON 15.96
-58.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.92 ₽1,035
$8.72 RON 39.54
36.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.89 ₽424
$6.48 RON 29.36
-24.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 ₽1,009
$10.28 RON 46.61
13.04%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ₽156
$1.40 RON 6.36
28.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ₽144
$1.63 RON 7.41
1.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 ₽123
$1.74 RON 7.87
-18.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.63 ₽228
$2.26 RON 10.25
16.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ₽59.1
$0.92 RON 4.16
-26.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.56 ₽48.55
$0.94 RON 4.27
-40.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 ₽129
$1.16 RON 5.24
27.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₽69.5
$1.01 RON 4.60
-20.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95 ₽256
$6.60 RON 29.93
-55.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 ₽607
$6.60 RON 29.92
5.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₽112
$1.40 RON 6.37
-7.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 ₽213
$2.21 RON 10.00
11.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 ₽40.94
$0.89 RON 4.06
-47.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.04 ₽1,480
$28.55 RON 129
-40.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 ₽250
$0.85 RON 3.84
238.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ₽14.70
$0.84 RON 3.80
-79.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 ₽354
$8.92 RON 40.45
-54.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 ₽65.8
$1.84 RON 8.33
-58.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K ₽2.6M
$30.1K RON 136.4K
-1.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K ₽2.4M
$29.1K RON 132.0K
-5.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ₽10.7K
$192 RON 870
-35.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.47 ₽562
$7.81 RON 35.41
-17.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.44 ₽993
$8.94 RON 40.51
27.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.53 ₽4,300
$46.28 RON 210
7.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.83 ₽1,982
$16.61 RON 75.3
37.45%
Cinema Ticket
$5.48 ₽476
$9.05 RON 41.03
-39.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$339 ₽29.4K
$421 RON 1,910
-19.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,632 ₽575.7K
$7,347 RON 33.3K
-9.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 ₽8,880
$75.5 RON 342
35.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0 ₽5,296
$40.56 RON 184
50.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$150 ₽13.1K
$95.7 RON 434
57.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 ₽11.2K
$95.8 RON 434
34.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$786 ₽68.2K
$556 RON 2,520
41.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$449 ₽39.0K
$441 RON 1,997
1.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 ₽108.1K
$916 RON 4,152
36.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 ₽88.1K
$698 RON 3,165
45.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,399 ₽208.3K
$2,963 RON 13.4K
-19.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,656 ₽143.8K
$1,991 RON 9,029
-16.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$889 ₽77.2K
$1,164 RON 5,277
-23.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.33
7.18
211.00%

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

Last update for Yekaterinburg: August 31, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $786 in Yekaterinburg versus $556 in Iasi. 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 31% higher in Iasi, 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 $47.00 in Yekaterinburg versus $44.00 in Iasi. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Yekaterinburg vs $224 in Iasi – so Yekaterinburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Yekaterinburg vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Yekaterinburg and in Iasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Yekaterinburg, $1,305 in Iasi – roughly 3% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Yekaterinburg compared to Iasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Yekaterinburg and $1,958 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Yekaterinburg and Iasi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yekaterinburg, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Yekaterinburg and in Iasi?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Yekaterinburg. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Yekaterinburg and Iasi?
Kindergarten costs $339 per month in Yekaterinburg and $421 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yekaterinburg, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Iasi at $1,305. In Yekaterinburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Yekaterinburg and Iasi?
It depends on your priorities. Yekaterinburg has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,264 in Yekaterinburg to $1,305 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Yekaterinburg or Iasi 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 Yekaterinburg and Iasi?
If budget matters most, go with Yekaterinburg. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Iasi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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