Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Calarasi vs $1,157 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Calarasi vs $1,741 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,030 per month in Calarasi vs $2,326 in Iasi, rent included.

Calarasi is about 13% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Calarasi and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 25% lower, Iasi 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.06 RON 43.84
$10.20 RON 44.45
-1.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.69 RON 121
$51.7 RON 225
-46.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 RON 33.34
$7.08 RON 30.87
8.05%
Cappuccino
$2.68 RON 11.69
$2.59 RON 11.30
3.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 RON 6.46
$2.09 RON 9.10
-29.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 RON 8.15
$1.76 RON 7.68
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 RON 9.74
$2.47 RON 10.77
-9.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 RON 14.75
$3.50 RON 15.26
-3.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 RON 6.18
$1.38 RON 6.02
2.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 RON 4.79
$1.26 RON 5.48
-12.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 RON 7.68
$1.79 RON 7.81
-1.68%
Eggs
$3.29 RON 14.34
$3.11 RON 13.57
5.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.95 RON 39.01
$8.11 RON 35.38
10.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.10 RON 30.95
$6.78 RON 29.57
4.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.08 RON 39.60
$11.07 RON 48.26
-17.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.16 RON 5.08
$1.17 RON 5.12
-0.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 RON 6.46
$1.63 RON 7.12
-9.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 RON 5.82
$1.81 RON 7.89
-26.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.88 RON 8.22
$1.92 RON 8.35
-2.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 RON 3.27
$1.00 RON 4.38
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 RON 3.86
$1.02 RON 4.45
-13.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 RON 3.08
$1.00 RON 4.38
-29.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 RON 3.70
$0.88 RON 3.82
-3.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63 RON 24.56
$6.30 RON 27.47
-10.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.49 RON 19.56
$6.92 RON 30.19
-35.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 RON 4.30
$1.10 RON 4.80
-10.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 RON 5.93
$1.93 RON 8.40
-29.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 RON 2.07
$0.77 RON 3.38
-37.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.08 RON 61.4
$27.83 RON 121
-49.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 RON 2.91
$0.90 RON 3.91
-25.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 RON 2.69
$0.74 RON 3.24
-16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.79 RON 25.23
$8.12 RON 35.39
-28.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 6.92
$1.67 RON 7.26
-4.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K RON 108.6K
$27.7K RON 120.9K
-10.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K RON 116.9K
$27.6K RON 120.4K
-2.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 RON 649
$155 RON 676
-4.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.35 RON 36.41
$8.32 RON 36.28
0.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.52 RON 32.77
$10.07 RON 43.93
-25.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.7 RON 304
$46.91 RON 205
48.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43 RON 84.7
$18.61 RON 81.1
4.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.85 RON 25.50
$8.12 RON 35.39
-27.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 RON 1,883
$462 RON 2,016
-6.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,852 RON 29.9K
$6,992 RON 30.5K
-2.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0 RON 366
$62.7 RON 273
33.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.91 RON 187
$42.85 RON 187
0.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.6 RON 321
$83.6 RON 364
-12.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.5 RON 425
$89.0 RON 388
9.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 RON 1,696
$467 RON 2,036
-16.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$229 RON 1,000
$354 RON 1,545
-35.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 RON 2,533
$722 RON 3,150
-19.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 RON 1,612
$551 RON 2,403
-32.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,261 RON 5,496
$2,903 RON 12.7K
-56.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,013 RON 4,418
$1,842 RON 8,033
-45.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calarasi
Iasi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$779 RON 3,394
$1,134 RON 4,942
-31.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
7.37
-10.18%

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

Last update for Calarasi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Iasi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Calarasi versus $467 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 46% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi versus $52.0 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $213 – making Calarasi 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
Calarasi vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Calarasi and Iasi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,006 in Calarasi, $1,157 in Iasi – roughly 15% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Calarasi compared to Iasi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Calarasi and $1,735 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Calarasi and Iasi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Calarasi and Iasi?
Kindergarten costs $432 per month in Calarasi and $462 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Iasi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Iasi at $1,157. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Calarasi and Iasi?
It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Calarasi to $1,157 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Calarasi or Iasi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Calarasi and Iasi?
If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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.

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