Cost of Living Comparison Between Zalau and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Zalau and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $913 per month in Zalau vs $1,275 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,404 per month in Zalau vs $1,920 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,895 per month in Zalau vs $2,564 in Iasi, rent included.

Zalau is about 28% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zalau and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Zalau 33% lower, Iasi 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 RON 35.38

$11.03 RON 50.6

-30.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.12 RON 165

$43.78 RON 201

-17.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 RON 25.81

$7.58 RON 34.72

-25.73%

Cappuccino

$2.37 RON 10.85

$3.09 RON 14.16

-23.30%

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

$1.54 RON 7.03

$2.12 RON 9.70

-27.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.30 RON 5.97

$1.83 RON 8.37

-28.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 RON 9.03

$3.32 RON 15.19

-40.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 RON 11.03

$3.86 RON 17.68

-37.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 RON 6.47

$1.60 RON 7.31

-11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 RON 5.18

$1.41 RON 6.44

-19.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.19

$2.11 RON 9.67

-36.02%

Eggs

$2.08 RON 9.51

$3.46 RON 15.85

-39.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.53 RON 39.07

$8.31 RON 38.05

2.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.01 RON 27.52

$6.37 RON 29.16

-5.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.67 RON 48.88

$10.13 RON 46.41

5.33%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 RON 4.25

$1.39 RON 6.35

-33.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.42

$1.69 RON 7.76

-17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 RON 7.02

$1.73 RON 7.91

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 RON 8.67

$2.25 RON 10.32

-16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 RON 3.11

$0.88 RON 4.01

-22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 RON 2.59

$0.94 RON 4.33

-40.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 RON 2.95

$1.22 RON 5.58

-47.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RON 3.63

$1.04 RON 4.75

-24.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 RON 23.68

$6.47 RON 29.64

-20.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.40 RON 24.76

$6.46 RON 29.58

-16.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.18

$1.40 RON 6.43

-19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.25 RON 5.74

$2.14 RON 9.80

-41.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 RON 3.90

$0.86 RON 3.94

-1.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.91 RON 105

$28.18 RON 129

-18.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 RON 3.88

$0.87 RON 3.98

-2.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 RON 4.28

$0.91 RON 4.15

2.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.13 RON 37.24

$8.88 RON 40.66

-8.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.36

$1.84 RON 8.43

-12.50%

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

$29.9K RON 137.1K

$29.5K RON 135.3K

1.37%

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

$27.3K RON 125.0K

$28.1K RON 128.6K

-2.81%

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

$108 RON 493

$191 RON 873

-43.58%

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

$4.47 RON 20.49

$7.41 RON 33.93

-39.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.77 RON 31.00

$8.89 RON 40.72

-23.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.58 RON 158

$46.83 RON 215

-26.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.01 RON 96.2

$16.46 RON 75.4

27.64%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 RON 25.48

$8.56 RON 39.22

-35.05%

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

$456 RON 2,088

$416 RON 1,904

9.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,261 RON 33.3K

$7,400 RON 33.9K

-1.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.2 RON 253

$77.4 RON 355

-28.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.04 RON 142

$40.07 RON 184

-22.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.1 RON 275

$96.0 RON 440

-37.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 RON 310

$94.7 RON 434

-28.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 RON 1,869

$555 RON 2,541

-26.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$297 RON 1,361

$449 RON 2,059

-33.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 RON 2,866

$926 RON 4,240

-32.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 RON 2,193

$692 RON 3,170

-30.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 RON 8,859

$2,950 RON 13.5K

-34.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,430 RON 6,549

$1,976 RON 9,051

-27.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$645 RON 2,952

$1,152 RON 5,275

-44.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

7.18

-4.60%

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

Last update for Zalau: September 12, 2026

Last update for Iasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $408 in Zalau versus $555 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 79% 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 $36.00 in Zalau versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $221 – making Zalau the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Zalau vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $913 in Zalau, $1,275 in Iasi – roughly 40% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,369 per month in Zalau and $1,913 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zalau, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 23% less in Zalau. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Zalau and $416 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Zalau, where all-in costs run around $913, than in Iasi at $1,275. In Zalau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $913 in Zalau to $1,275 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Zalau. 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.