Cost of Living Comparison Between Carei and Iasi Cost of Living Comparison Between Carei and Iasi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,042 per month in Carei vs $1,305 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,600 per month in Carei vs $1,902 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,157 per month in Carei vs $2,499 in Iasi, rent included.

Carei is about 20% cheaper than Iasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Carei and Iasi are more affordable than the global median – Carei 24% lower, Iasi 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.64 RON 48.02

$11.00 RON 49.65

-3.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.53 RON 187

$43.93 RON 198

-5.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 RON 34.21

$7.83 RON 35.36

-3.19%

Cappuccino

$2.56 RON 11.56

$2.97 RON 13.42

-13.80%

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

$2.11 RON 9.52

$2.21 RON 9.98

-4.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 RON 7.53

$1.90 RON 8.57

-12.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 RON 9.85

$3.27 RON 14.77

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 RON 12.09

$4.09 RON 18.49

-34.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.28

$1.67 RON 7.52

-3.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 RON 5.23

$1.43 RON 6.44

-18.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 RON 6.93

$2.15 RON 9.70

-28.84%

Eggs

$3.25 RON 14.68

$3.52 RON 15.89

-7.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 RON 36.19

$8.72 RON 39.37

-8.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 RON 29.21

$6.48 RON 29.24

-0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 RON 44.87

$10.28 RON 46.42

-3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 RON 5.56

$1.40 RON 6.33

-12.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.42

$1.63 RON 7.38

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.07

$1.74 RON 7.84

-9.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 RON 9.88

$2.26 RON 10.20

-3.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.72

$0.92 RON 4.15

-10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 RON 3.56

$0.94 RON 4.26

-15.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.89

$1.16 RON 5.22

-25.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 RON 3.56

$1.01 RON 4.58

-21.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.29 RON 28.41

$6.60 RON 29.80

-4.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 RON 30.12

$6.60 RON 29.79

1.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.11

$1.40 RON 6.34

-19.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 RON 7.46

$2.21 RON 9.96

-25.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 RON 3.59

$0.89 RON 4.04

-10.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.02 RON 104

$28.55 RON 129

-19.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 RON 3.61

$0.85 RON 3.82

-5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 RON 3.34

$0.84 RON 3.79

-11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 RON 31.83

$8.92 RON 40.28

-20.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.77 RON 8.01

$1.84 RON 8.29

-3.80%

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

$29.4K RON 132.7K

$30.1K RON 135.8K

-2.33%

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

$26.8K RON 121.0K

$29.1K RON 131.5K

-7.99%

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

$144 RON 648

$192 RON 867

-25.22%

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

$8.59 RON 38.79

$7.81 RON 35.26

9.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.51 RON 38.42

$8.94 RON 40.34

-4.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.33 RON 182

$46.28 RON 209

-12.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.11 RON 95.3

$16.61 RON 75.0

27.09%

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 RON 35.47

$9.05 RON 40.86

-13.15%

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

$441 RON 1,991

$421 RON 1,902

4.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,179 RON 32.4K

$7,347 RON 33.2K

-2.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 RON 293

$75.5 RON 341

-14.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.08 RON 167

$40.56 RON 183

-8.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.1 RON 380

$95.7 RON 432

-12.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 RON 396

$95.8 RON 432

-8.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 RON 1,851

$556 RON 2,509

-26.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,374

$441 RON 1,989

-30.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 RON 2,814

$916 RON 4,134

-31.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 RON 2,096

$698 RON 3,151

-33.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,917 RON 8,657

$2,963 RON 13.4K

-35.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,386 RON 6,257

$1,991 RON 8,991

-30.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,164 RON 5,255

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.99

7.18

-2.65%

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

Last update for Carei: September 1, 2026

Last update for Iasi: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $410 in Carei versus $556 in Iasi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Carei versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $224 – making Carei 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

Carei vs Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iasi costs about 25% more than Carei, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,563 per month in Carei and $1,958 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Carei, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Iasi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Carei and $44.00 in Iasi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Carei, where all-in costs run around $1,042, than in Iasi at $1,305. In Carei it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Carei costs $1,042 versus $1,305 in Iasi. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Carei. 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.