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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,275 per month in Iasi vs $915 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,920 per month in Iasi vs $1,420 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,564 per month in Iasi vs $1,925 in Calarasi, rent included.

Iasi costs about 39% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iasi and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 7% lower, Calarasi 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.03 RON 50.6

$9.14 RON 41.90

20.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.78 RON 201

$34.76 RON 159

25.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 RON 34.75

$8.21 RON 37.65

-7.67%

Cappuccino

$3.09 RON 14.17

$2.22 RON 10.19

39.19%

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

$2.12 RON 9.71

$1.95 RON 8.93

8.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 RON 8.37

$1.71 RON 7.85

7.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.32 RON 15.20

$1.69 RON 7.73

96.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 RON 17.69

$1.52 RON 6.95

153.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.32

$1.52 RON 6.97

5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 RON 6.45

$0.97 RON 4.45

45.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 RON 9.68

$1.61 RON 7.40

31.06%

Eggs

$3.46 RON 15.86

$2.85 RON 13.05

21.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 RON 38.08

$7.91 RON 36.27

5.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.37 RON 29.18

$4.31 RON 19.78

47.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 RON 46.44

$8.69 RON 39.82

16.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.36

$1.17 RON 5.35

18.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 RON 7.76

$1.47 RON 6.73

14.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 RON 7.92

$1.31 RON 6.00

32.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 RON 10.32

$1.51 RON 6.92

49.01%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 RON 4.01

$0.46 RON 2.10

91.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.33

$0.64 RON 2.92

46.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$0.42 RON 1.92

190.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 RON 4.75

$0.78 RON 3.59

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 RON 29.66

$6.44 RON 29.54

0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 RON 29.60

$4.51 RON 20.67

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 RON 6.44

$0.99 RON 4.53

41.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 RON 9.81

$1.45 RON 6.67

47.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 RON 3.95

$0.45 RON 2.08

91.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.18 RON 129

$13.15 RON 60.3

114.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 RON 3.98

$0.64 RON 2.92

35.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 RON 4.16

$0.69 RON 3.17

31.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 RON 40.69

$6.67 RON 30.57

33.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 RON 8.43

$1.68 RON 7.70

9.52%

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

$29.5K RON 135.4K

$29.6K RON 135.8K

-0.33%

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

$28.1K RON 128.7K

$25.7K RON 118.0K

9.05%

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

$191 RON 874

$161 RON 736

18.78%

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

$7.41 RON 33.95

$6.75 RON 30.95

9.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.89 RON 40.75

$6.95 RON 31.85

27.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.83 RON 215

$50.1 RON 229

-6.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.46 RON 75.4

$54.6 RON 250

-69.83%

Cinema Ticket

$8.56 RON 39.25

$8.60 RON 39.43

-0.47%

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

$416 RON 1,905

$413 RON 1,892

0.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,400 RON 33.9K

$6,198 RON 28.4K

19.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.4 RON 355

$76.7 RON 352

0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 RON 184

$21.77 RON 99.8

84.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 RON 440

$96.9 RON 444

-0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.7 RON 434

$99.0 RON 454

-4.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$555 RON 2,543

$334 RON 1,533

65.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 RON 2,060

$202 RON 924

122.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 RON 4,243

$435 RON 1,994

112.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 RON 3,173

$336 RON 1,541

105.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,950 RON 13.5K

$1,232 RON 5,650

139.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 RON 9,058

$982 RON 4,501

101.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,152 RON 5,279

$772 RON 3,538

49.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.18

7.85

-8.54%

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

Last update for Iasi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $555 in Iasi versus $334 in Calarasi. 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 49% 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 $44.00 in Iasi versus $35.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $172 – 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

Iasi vs Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,275 in Iasi, $915 in Calarasi – roughly 39% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,913 per month in Iasi and $1,372 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $416 per month in Iasi and $413 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Iasi at $1,275. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $915 in Calarasi to $1,275 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 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.