Cost of Living Comparison Between Zărnești and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Zărnești and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,007 per month in Zărnești vs $1,128 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Zărnești vs $1,706 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,030 per month in Zărnești vs $2,285 in Iasi, rent included.

Zărnești is about 11% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zărnești and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Zărnești 25% lower, Iasi 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.80 RON 40.37

$10.27 RON 47.10

-14.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.16 RON 184

$51.1 RON 234

-21.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.05 RON 41.50

$6.78 RON 31.08

33.48%

Cappuccino

$2.31 RON 10.58

$2.72 RON 12.49

-15.07%

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

$1.32 RON 6.04

$2.11 RON 9.67

-37.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.26

$1.70 RON 7.78

-32.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 RON 10.15

$2.51 RON 11.50

-11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 RON 13.01

$3.47 RON 15.92

-18.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 RON 6.18

$1.37 RON 6.29

-1.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 RON 5.39

$1.26 RON 5.80

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 RON 7.48

$1.88 RON 8.60

-13.30%

Eggs

$2.93 RON 13.43

$3.09 RON 14.17

-5.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.89 RON 40.75

$8.17 RON 37.48

8.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 RON 23.62

$6.95 RON 31.85

-25.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 RON 56.6

$10.81 RON 49.56

14.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.71

$1.25 RON 5.71

-17.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.19

$1.57 RON 7.21

-14.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.46

$1.80 RON 8.24

-21.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 RON 6.23

$1.88 RON 8.63

-27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.09

$1.00 RON 4.59

-11.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 RON 4.22

$1.04 RON 4.78

-11.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 RON 3.36

$1.05 RON 4.81

-30.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.59

$0.83 RON 3.79

-6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.65 RON 25.91

$6.13 RON 28.12

-7.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 RON 34.03

$6.48 RON 29.73

14.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 RON 4.96

$1.08 RON 4.97

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 RON 6.21

$1.92 RON 8.79

-29.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 RON 3.03

$0.80 RON 3.65

-17.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.98 RON 91.6

$27.59 RON 127

-27.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 RON 4.34

$0.93 RON 4.27

2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 RON 3.76

$0.76 RON 3.47

7.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 RON 34.68

$7.98 RON 36.60

-5.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.36

$1.69 RON 7.73

-5.33%

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

$28.4K RON 130.2K

$28.5K RON 130.8K

-0.46%

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

$27.6K RON 126.4K

$27.9K RON 127.9K

-1.17%

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

$169 RON 773

$157 RON 718

7.57%

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

$7.92 RON 36.33

$8.46 RON 38.79

-6.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.90 RON 45.39

$10.19 RON 46.72

-2.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.70 RON 191

$47.39 RON 217

-12.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.16 RON 87.8

$18.07 RON 82.8

6.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.68 RON 26.04

$7.97 RON 36.55

-28.73%

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

$422 RON 1,935

$475 RON 2,179

-11.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,960 RON 31.9K

$6,939 RON 31.8K

0.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.29 RON 221

$61.0 RON 280

-20.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.50 RON 140

$43.54 RON 200

-29.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 RON 335

$84.2 RON 386

-13.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.8 RON 366

$88.8 RON 407

-10.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 RON 1,769

$481 RON 2,207

-19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 RON 1,308

$350 RON 1,607

-18.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 RON 2,723

$726 RON 3,328

-18.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 2,017

$540 RON 2,475

-18.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,728 RON 7,924

$2,956 RON 13.6K

-41.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,427 RON 6,543

$1,936 RON 8,877

-26.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$525 RON 2,408

$1,143 RON 5,240

-54.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

7.37

10.85%

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

Last update for Zărnești: July 19, 2026

Last update for Iasi: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Zărnești versus $481 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 118% 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 $40.00 in Zărnești versus $51.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $212 – making Zărnești 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

Zărnești vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,007 in Zărnești, $1,128 in Iasi – roughly 12% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,511 per month in Zărnești and $1,691 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 38% less in Zărnești. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $422 per month in Zărnești and $475 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zărnești, where all-in costs run around $1,007, than in Iasi at $1,128. In Zărnești 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 $1,007 in Zărnești to $1,128 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 Zărnești. 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.