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: $528 in Calamba versus $789 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $775 in Calamba versus $1,248 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,021 in Calamba versus $1,708 in Miercurea Ciuc.

Living in Calamba costs roughly 33% less than in Miercurea Ciuc, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Calamba 62% lower, Miercurea Ciuc 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.91 ₱245

$6.44 RON 29.10

-39.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.20 ₱763

$21.80 RON 98.5

-44.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.80 ₱175

$6.44 RON 29.11

-56.52%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₱111

$1.81 RON 8.16

-1.66%

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

$0.56 ₱35.07

$1.64 RON 7.39

-65.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₱19.98

$1.42 RON 6.43

-77.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ₱55.2

$2.08 RON 9.39

-57.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₱102

$2.06 RON 9.30

-20.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱105

$1.45 RON 6.54

15.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 ₱69.4

$1.16 RON 5.24

-4.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₱63.2

$1.41 RON 6.39

-28.37%

Eggs

$2.10 ₱131

$3.58 RON 16.15

-41.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.05 ₱316

$8.16 RON 36.87

-38.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 ₱210

$4.98 RON 22.50

-32.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.70 ₱482

$8.44 RON 38.10

-8.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 ₱138

$0.76 RON 3.43

189.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₱100

$1.57 RON 7.10

2.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$1.58 RON 7.13

46.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₱65.4

$2.63 RON 11.87

-60.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 ₱106

$0.64 RON 2.88

165.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 ₱108

$0.68 RON 3.06

154.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ₱41.13

$0.42 RON 1.90

57.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱31.26

$0.69 RON 3.13

-27.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱184

$5.39 RON 24.37

-45.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.65 ₱541

$5.66 RON 25.58

52.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₱56.8

$0.99 RON 4.48

-8.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 ₱125

$1.36 RON 6.14

47.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 RON 4.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.82 RON 98.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱51.4

$0.96 RON 4.32

-14.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.65

$0.89 RON 4.04

-71.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

$8.80 RON 39.76

-77.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ₱58.8

$1.74 RON 7.86

-45.98%

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

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$26.8K RON 121.3K

-18.88%

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

$19.3K ₱1.2M

$26.1K RON 118.0K

-25.96%

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

$144 ₱8,992

$120 RON 542

19.79%

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

$17.74 ₱1,110

$5.55 RON 25.08

219.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.94 ₱1,497

$5.36 RON 24.20

346.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.70 RON 152

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.84 RON 48.98

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 ₱320

$4.99 RON 22.56

2.61%

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

$135 ₱8,450

$462 RON 2,088

-70.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K ₱684.6K

$6,892 RON 31.1K

58.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.37 ₱1,836

$43.90 RON 198

-33.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 ₱1,225

$17.34 RON 78.3

12.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 ₱4,462

$71.1 RON 321

0.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 ₱3,492

$89.5 RON 404

-37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 RON 887

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 RON 737

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,004

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 RON 1,775

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,566 RON 7,072

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,416 RON 6,397

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 ₱16.3K

$728 RON 3,288

-64.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.85

-1.46%

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

Last update for Calamba: August 29, 2026

Last update for Miercurea Ciuc: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Miercurea Ciuc pays 180% 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: $12.00 in Calamba vs $22.00 in Miercurea Ciuc for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 vs $186 per month, with Calamba cheaper across the board.

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 49% 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, salaries run 180% lower in Miercurea Ciuc. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Miercurea Ciuc. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $528 per month in Calamba versus $789 in Miercurea Ciuc – a 49% 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 49% less than in Miercurea Ciuc. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.