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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,145 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $1,156 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,827 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $1,753 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,509 per month in Yekaterinburg vs $2,350 in Iasi, rent included.

Yekaterinburg is about 1% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Yekaterinburg and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Yekaterinburg 14% lower, Iasi 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30 ₽1,039
$10.39 RON 47.44
28.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 ₽4,029
$51.6 RON 235
0.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.50 ₽508
$7.12 RON 32.48
-8.71%
Cappuccino
$2.82 ₽220
$2.63 RON 12.03
7.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 ₽107
$2.11 RON 9.62
-35.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₽51.1
$1.71 RON 7.81
-61.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 ₽145
$2.47 RON 11.28
-25.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 ₽176
$3.36 RON 15.34
-33.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 ₽86.2
$1.43 RON 6.52
-23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 ₽51.7
$1.22 RON 5.55
-45.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 ₽105
$1.89 RON 8.61
-29.10%
Eggs
$1.62 ₽127
$3.09 RON 14.08
-47.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.54 ₽979
$8.12 RON 37.08
54.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.68 ₽365
$6.93 RON 31.62
-32.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 ₽920
$10.88 RON 49.67
8.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 ₽154
$1.23 RON 5.62
60.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 ₽151
$1.55 RON 7.10
24.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 ₽192
$1.71 RON 7.81
43.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 ₽231
$1.92 RON 8.75
54.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ₽52.9
$0.94 RON 4.28
-27.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 ₽61.7
$1.00 RON 4.58
-21.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 ₽107
$1.00 RON 4.56
37.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₽56.7
$0.86 RON 3.92
-15.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48 ₽194
$6.28 RON 28.65
-60.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.91 ₽618
$6.39 RON 29.15
23.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₽89.9
$1.10 RON 5.01
4.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 ₽192
$1.92 RON 8.78
28.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ₽33.80
$0.79 RON 3.63
-45.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.23 ₽1,971
$27.96 RON 128
-9.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 ₽195
$0.94 RON 4.28
164.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ₽27.42
$0.71 RON 3.24
-50.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.91 ₽539
$8.14 RON 37.15
-15.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 ₽56.8
$1.68 RON 7.66
-56.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K ₽2.4M
$28.5K RON 130.2K
9.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7K ₽3.6M
$27.7K RON 126.5K
68.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 ₽10.1K
$157 RON 714
-17.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.91 ₽540
$8.51 RON 38.86
-18.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.22 ₽720
$10.26 RON 46.83
-10.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.12 ₽3,134
$47.27 RON 216
-15.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.27 ₽1,505
$18.50 RON 84.5
4.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.56 ₽434
$8.00 RON 36.53
-30.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$463 ₽36.2K
$471 RON 2,148
-1.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,822 ₽689.2K
$6,866 RON 31.3K
28.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5 ₽5,353
$61.0 RON 278
12.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.70 ₽3,570
$43.56 RON 199
4.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 ₽7,720
$86.8 RON 396
13.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ₽5,780
$87.5 RON 399
-15.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₽45.9K
$473 RON 2,160
24.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 ₽30.2K
$359 RON 1,640
7.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 ₽87.2K
$742 RON 3,386
50.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 ₽60.9K
$533 RON 2,434
46.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,795 ₽218.4K
$2,911 RON 13.3K
-3.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,865 ₽145.7K
$1,932 RON 8,820
-3.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yekaterinburg
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 ₽75.5K
$1,182 RON 5,396
-18.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.39
7.37
122.39%

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

Last update for Yekaterinburg: July 12, 2026

Last update for Iasi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $587 in Yekaterinburg versus $473 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 22% 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 $52.0 in Yekaterinburg versus $52.0 in Iasi. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Yekaterinburg vs $211 in Iasi – so Iasi 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: $1,145 in Yekaterinburg, $1,156 in Iasi – roughly 1% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Yekaterinburg compared to Iasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,718 per month in Yekaterinburg and $1,734 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 11% 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 $463 per month in Yekaterinburg and $471 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 $1,145, than in Iasi at $1,156. 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 $1,145 in Yekaterinburg to $1,156 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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