Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Calafat and Iasi

For one person, living is cheaper in Calafat: $1,016 a month against $1,263 in Iasi, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Calafat, Romania
Iasi, Romania
Calafat
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,016
/mo nomad
Iasi
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,263
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Calafat and in Iasi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Calafat and in Iasi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,016 per month in Calafat vs $1,263 in Iasi, rent included.

  • Calafat $1,016
  • Iasi $1,263

A couple spends around $1,499 per month in Calafat vs $1,842 in Iasi, rent included.

  • Calafat $1,499
  • Iasi $1,842

A family of three spends $1,982 per month in Calafat vs $2,420 in Iasi, rent included.

  • Calafat $1,982
  • Iasi $2,420

Calafat is about 20% cheaper than Iasi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Calafat and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Calafat 25% lower, Iasi 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 RON 34.92
$10.47 RON 49.69
-29.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.38 RON 182
$41.94 RON 199
-8.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.21 RON 34.23
$6.95 RON 32.99
3.74%
Cappuccino
$2.14 RON 10.14
$2.85 RON 13.52
-24.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 RON 6.82
$2.15 RON 10.23
-33.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 RON 4.11
$1.82 RON 8.65
-52.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 RON 5.11
$3.20 RON 15.18
-66.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 RON 8.71
$3.69 RON 17.50
-50.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 RON 5.30
$1.54 RON 7.30
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 RON 3.63
$1.37 RON 6.50
-44.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 RON 6.39
$2.02 RON 9.61
-33.17%
Eggs
$2.33 RON 11.06
$3.32 RON 15.76
-29.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.69 RON 31.78
$8.45 RON 40.12
-20.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.35 RON 30.13
$6.65 RON 31.56
-4.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.24 RON 29.61
$9.72 RON 46.14
-35.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.01 RON 4.80
$1.37 RON 6.51
-26.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 RON 7.07
$1.65 RON 7.85
-9.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 RON 6.06
$1.61 RON 7.65
-20.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 RON 6.84
$2.12 RON 10.06
-32.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.60 RON 2.86
$0.79 RON 3.77
-24.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 RON 3.56
$0.90 RON 4.27
-16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 RON 3.28
$1.10 RON 5.22
-37.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 RON 3.38
$0.96 RON 4.55
-26.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.31 RON 25.19
$6.24 RON 29.61
-14.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.27 RON 29.76
$6.93 RON 32.89
-9.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 RON 4.16
$1.31 RON 6.20
-32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 RON 6.90
$2.04 RON 9.70
-28.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 RON 3.55
$0.80 RON 3.80
-6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.34 RON 106
$27.14 RON 129
-17.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 RON 2.53
$0.81 RON 3.83
-34.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 RON 2.42
$0.81 RON 3.84
-37.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.77 RON 46.39
$8.20 RON 38.94
19.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 RON 7.15
$1.86 RON 8.85
-18.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K RON 120.9K
$28.2K RON 133.7K
-9.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K RON 121.1K
$26.0K RON 123.6K
-2.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 RON 1,017
$181 RON 858
18.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.55 RON 35.87
$7.23 RON 34.32
4.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.33 RON 30.04
$8.61 RON 40.88
-26.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.82 RON 180
$43.50 RON 207
-13.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.06 RON 90.5
$16.04 RON 76.2
18.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.40 RON 35.13
$8.57 RON 40.71
-13.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 RON 1,958
$399 RON 1,896
3.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,151 RON 38.7K
$7,646 RON 36.3K
6.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 RON 302
$73.6 RON 350
-13.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04 RON 200
$39.27 RON 186
7.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 RON 400
$93.7 RON 445
-10.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5 RON 396
$89.3 RON 424
-6.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$380 RON 1,805
$544 RON 2,581
-30.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 RON 1,398
$444 RON 2,106
-33.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 RON 2,928
$815 RON 3,872
-24.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$468 RON 2,220
$643 RON 3,055
-27.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,910 RON 9,070
$2,831 RON 13.4K
-32.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,190 RON 5,652
$1,851 RON 8,789
-35.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calafat
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$812 RON 3,856
$1,142 RON 5,422
-28.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
7.18
-16.43%

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

Last update for Calafat: November 2, 2026

Last update for Iasi: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Calafat
$294
Iasi
$444 50.7% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calafat
$228
Iasi
$196 13.9% $32
Groceries & Markets
Calafat
$165
Iasi
$217 31.4% $52
Eating Out
Calafat
$124
Iasi
$178 43.2% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Calafat
$123
Iasi
$133 8.3% $10
Sport & Entertainment
Calafat
$53
Iasi
$61 15.3% $8
Getting Around
Calafat
$28
Iasi
$35 23.9% $6.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Calafat versus $544 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 41% higher in Iasi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38 in Calafat versus $42 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $217 – making Calafat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Calafat
🇷🇴 Iasi
🕒 Local time
03:36 3:36 AM
03:36 3:36 AM
Same time as Calafat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,500
290,422
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 4.75 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Calafat Iasi 500 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Calafat
  • Iasi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Calafat vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Calafat and in Iasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,016 in Calafat, $1,263 in Iasi – Calafat comes out roughly 20% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Calafat compared to Iasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,523 per month in Calafat and $1,895 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Calafat and Iasi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calafat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $380 there versus $544 in Iasi.
Which city is more expensive overall: Calafat or Iasi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,016 in Calafat and $1,263 in Iasi. That makes Calafat about 20% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Calafat and in Iasi?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Calafat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $2,000 go in Calafat compared to Iasi?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,016 in Calafat and $1,263 in Iasi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Calafat and Iasi?
It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,016 in Calafat to $1,263 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Calafat or Iasi safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Calafat and Iasi?
If budget matters most, go with Calafat. If higher salaries 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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