Cost of Living Comparison Between Calamba and Miercurea Ciuc Cost of Living Comparison Between Calamba and Miercurea Ciuc

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Calamba versus $800 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,179 in Calamba versus $1,275 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,636 in Calamba versus $1,751 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Living in Calamba costs roughly 10% less than in Miercurea Ciuc, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calamba 46% lower, Miercurea Ciuc 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 ₱221

$7.00 RON 31.65

-48.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.48 ₱831

$22.78 RON 103

-40.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.58 ₱159

$6.85 RON 30.95

-62.34%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ₱145

$1.87 RON 8.43

25.67%

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

$0.69 ₱42.53

$1.76 RON 7.97

-60.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₱24.83

$1.48 RON 6.67

-72.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₱61.9

$2.24 RON 10.11

-55.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ₱122

$2.15 RON 9.71

-7.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 ₱114

$1.34 RON 6.07

38.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱74.5

$1.05 RON 4.73

15.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 ₱66.4

$1.18 RON 5.35

-8.47%

Eggs

$2.20 ₱136

$3.24 RON 14.63

-32.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.44 ₱582

$8.55 RON 38.65

10.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 ₱229

$6.97 RON 31.53

-46.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.67 ₱535

$6.52 RON 29.47

32.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ₱167

$0.77 RON 3.50

251.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 ₱110

$1.46 RON 6.61

21.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ₱146

$1.35 RON 6.09

74.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 ₱75.2

$1.95 RON 8.83

-37.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 ₱113

$0.66 RON 2.99

177.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$0.94 RON 4.25

132.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱42.15

$0.75 RON 3.37

-9.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.33

$0.72 RON 3.24

6.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₱203

$5.91 RON 26.70

-44.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.66 ₱534

$5.67 RON 25.61

52.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱63.3

$0.96 RON 4.33

7.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₱144

$1.13 RON 5.09

107.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.98

$0.95 RON 4.28

-72.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.44 RON 106

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₱55.8

$0.66 RON 2.98

36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.54

$0.66 RON 2.99

-66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.41 ₱149

$5.62 RON 25.39

-57.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱69.1

$1.61 RON 7.27

-30.43%

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

$31.3K ₱1.9M

$25.2K RON 113.8K

24.31%

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

$20.1K ₱1.2M

$26.8K RON 120.9K

-24.92%

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

$144 ₱8,890

$135 RON 611

6.65%

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

$34.60 ₱2,134

$5.63 RON 25.45

514.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.46 ₱1,632

$5.93 RON 26.80

346.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.99 ₱2,096

$34.49 RON 156

-1.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.41 ₱272

$11.40 RON 51.6

-61.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 ₱358

$5.03 RON 22.72

15.31%

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

$153 ₱9,416

$420 RON 1,900

-63.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,663 ₱287.5K

$6,906 RON 31.2K

-32.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.35 ₱3,043

$45.71 RON 207

7.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.02 ₱1,728

$18.18 RON 82.2

54.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ₱4,718

$73.5 RON 332

4.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.46 ₱2,926

$90.4 RON 409

-47.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$123 ₱7,577

$206 RON 930

-40.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$79.2 ₱4,882

$175 RON 793

-54.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₱36.2K

$456 RON 2,062

28.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$391 ₱24.1K

$420 RON 1,901

-6.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,695 ₱166.2K

$1,583 RON 7,154

70.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,000 ₱61.6K

$1,451 RON 6,558

-31.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 ₱15.8K

$720 RON 3,256

-64.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.5

-30.77%

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

Last update for Calamba: May 31, 2026

Last update for Miercurea Ciuc: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $123 in Calamba and $206 in Miercurea Ciuc. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Miercurea Ciuc pays 181% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $13.00 in Calamba vs $23.00 in Miercurea Ciuc. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $183, with Miercurea Ciuc cheaper for home cooking.

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

Calamba vs Miercurea Ciuc: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Miercurea Ciuc. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Miercurea Ciuc earns 181% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $123 in Calamba versus $206 in Miercurea Ciuc. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Miercurea Ciuc pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Calamba versus $800 in Miercurea Ciuc – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Calamba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Calamba and Miercurea Ciuc are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Miercurea Ciuc. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.