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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Zărnești vs $1,123 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 $2,029 per month in Zărnești vs $2,288 in Iasi, rent included.

Zărnești is about 10% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.44 RON 38.35

$10.49 RON 47.67

-19.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.89 RON 181

$50.4 RON 229

-20.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 RON 39.94

$7.06 RON 32.07

24.50%

Cappuccino

$2.28 RON 10.37

$2.61 RON 11.85

-12.64%

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

$1.26 RON 5.71

$2.09 RON 9.50

-39.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.08

$1.71 RON 7.79

-34.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 RON 10.14

$2.56 RON 11.64

-12.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 RON 12.67

$3.36 RON 15.25

-16.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 RON 6.36

$1.38 RON 6.28

1.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 RON 5.37

$1.21 RON 5.52

-2.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 RON 7.18

$1.88 RON 8.56

-15.96%

Eggs

$3.07 RON 13.96

$3.26 RON 14.83

-5.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.74 RON 39.72

$7.95 RON 36.15

9.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 RON 22.66

$6.69 RON 30.43

-25.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.49 RON 56.8

$10.95 RON 49.76

14.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.50

$1.24 RON 5.65

-20.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 RON 6.22

$1.55 RON 7.04

-11.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.33

$1.80 RON 8.16

-22.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.35

$1.97 RON 8.94

-28.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.35

$0.98 RON 4.47

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$1.05 RON 4.79

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RON 3.66

$1.01 RON 4.58

-20.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RON 3.58

$0.80 RON 3.65

-1.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.90 RON 26.82

$6.07 RON 27.59

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 RON 35.65

$6.70 RON 30.47

17.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 RON 4.69

$1.14 RON 5.17

-9.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 RON 6.40

$1.97 RON 8.97

-28.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 RON 3.21

$0.79 RON 3.59

-10.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.13 RON 91.5

$27.90 RON 127

-27.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 RON 4.34

$0.93 RON 4.23

3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$0.75 RON 3.43

16.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 RON 32.74

$8.26 RON 37.56

-12.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.02

$1.68 RON 7.62

-8.33%

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

$27.5K RON 124.8K

$28.3K RON 128.8K

-3.09%

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

$28.3K RON 128.8K

$27.6K RON 125.2K

2.81%

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

$171 RON 779

$158 RON 720

8.17%

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

$8.33 RON 37.88

$8.26 RON 37.53

0.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.08 RON 45.83

$10.26 RON 46.63

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.12 RON 191

$46.57 RON 212

-9.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.98 RON 86.3

$18.66 RON 84.8

1.71%

Cinema Ticket

$5.59 RON 25.41

$8.14 RON 36.98

-31.33%

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

$434 RON 1,972

$462 RON 2,100

-6.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,944 RON 31.6K

$6,957 RON 31.6K

-0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.29 RON 220

$63.1 RON 287

-23.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.48 RON 139

$43.17 RON 196

-29.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 RON 342

$84.9 RON 386

-11.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 RON 366

$88.8 RON 404

-9.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 RON 1,739

$480 RON 2,181

-20.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 RON 1,341

$362 RON 1,647

-18.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 RON 2,656

$744 RON 3,383

-21.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$438 RON 1,990

$550 RON 2,499

-20.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,063 RON 9,380

$2,956 RON 13.4K

-30.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,374 RON 6,246

$2,005 RON 9,115

-31.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$518 RON 2,356

$1,181 RON 5,366

-56.10%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Iasi: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Zărnești versus $480 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 128% 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 $50.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $211 – 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: $1,006 in Zărnești, $1,123 in Iasi – roughly 12% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Zărnești and $1,684 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 39% less in Zărnești. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $434 per month in Zărnești and $462 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 $1,006, than in Iasi at $1,123. 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 $1,006 in Zărnești to $1,123 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.