Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Mangalia Cost of Living Comparison Between Iasi and Mangalia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,157 per month in Iasi vs $1,041 in Mangalia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,741 per month in Iasi vs $1,586 in Mangalia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,326 per month in Iasi vs $2,130 in Mangalia, rent included.

Iasi costs about 11% more than Mangalia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iasi and Mangalia are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 14% lower, Mangalia 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20 RON 44.45
$9.77 RON 42.62
4.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 RON 225
$42.74 RON 186
20.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.08 RON 30.87
$7.62 RON 33.21
-7.09%
Cappuccino
$2.59 RON 11.30
$2.69 RON 11.73
-3.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 RON 9.10
$1.91 RON 8.31
9.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76 RON 7.68
$1.85 RON 8.05
-4.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 RON 10.77
$2.35 RON 10.27
5.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 RON 15.26
$3.36 RON 14.66
4.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 RON 6.02
$1.35 RON 5.87
2.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 RON 5.48
$1.10 RON 4.80
14.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.79 RON 7.81
$1.76 RON 7.67
1.70%
Eggs
$3.11 RON 13.57
$3.21 RON 14.01
-3.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.11 RON 35.38
$8.55 RON 37.26
-5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.78 RON 29.57
$6.89 RON 30.04
-1.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 RON 48.26
$8.91 RON 38.84
24.24%
Apples (1kg)
$1.17 RON 5.12
$1.18 RON 5.13
-0.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.12
$1.47 RON 6.41
10.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.81 RON 7.89
$1.29 RON 5.62
40.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 RON 8.35
$1.94 RON 8.46
-1.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 RON 4.38
$0.76 RON 3.30
31.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 RON 4.45
$0.88 RON 3.83
15.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.38
$0.75 RON 3.26
33.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 RON 3.82
$0.87 RON 3.78
1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30 RON 27.47
$5.69 RON 24.82
10.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.92 RON 30.19
$7.02 RON 30.62
-1.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 RON 4.80
$0.92 RON 4.00
19.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 RON 8.40
$1.41 RON 6.15
36.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 RON 3.38
$0.72 RON 3.12
6.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.83 RON 121
$19.96 RON 87.0
39.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 RON 3.91
$0.70 RON 3.05
28.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 RON 3.24
$0.60 RON 2.63
23.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 RON 35.39
$5.65 RON 24.64
43.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.26
$1.53 RON 6.68
9.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K RON 120.9K
$24.5K RON 106.7K
13.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K RON 120.4K
$27.5K RON 120.1K
0.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 RON 676
$149 RON 648
4.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.32 RON 36.28
$6.67 RON 29.07
24.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.07 RON 43.93
$10.07 RON 43.92
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.91 RON 205
$41.00 RON 179
14.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61 RON 81.1
$19.22 RON 83.8
-3.17%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 RON 35.39
$6.78 RON 29.57
19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 RON 2,016
$434 RON 1,894
6.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,992 RON 30.5K
$6,835 RON 29.8K
2.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7 RON 273
$83.3 RON 363
-24.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.85 RON 187
$43.27 RON 189
-0.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.6 RON 364
$73.8 RON 322
13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 RON 388
$98.7 RON 430
-9.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$467 RON 2,036
$386 RON 1,682
21.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 RON 1,545
$291 RON 1,270
21.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 RON 3,150
$599 RON 2,612
20.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 RON 2,403
$432 RON 1,884
27.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,903 RON 12.7K
$1,646 RON 7,178
76.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,842 RON 8,033
$1,554 RON 6,776
18.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,134 RON 4,942
$811 RON 3,535
39.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.37
6.62
11.33%

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

Last update for Iasi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mangalia: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Iasi versus $386 in Mangalia. 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 40% 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 $52.0 in Iasi versus $43.00 in Mangalia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $200 – making Mangalia 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 Mangalia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Iasi and Mangalia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,157 in Iasi, $1,041 in Mangalia – roughly 11% apart. Iasi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Iasi compared to Mangalia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,735 per month in Iasi and $1,562 in Mangalia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Iasi and Mangalia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mangalia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Iasi and Mangalia?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Mangalia. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Iasi and Mangalia?
Kindergarten costs $462 per month in Iasi and $434 in Mangalia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mangalia, where all-in costs run around $1,041, than in Iasi at $1,157. In Mangalia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Iasi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Iasi and Mangalia?
It depends on your priorities. Iasi has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,041 in Mangalia to $1,157 in Iasi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Iasi or Mangalia 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 Iasi and Mangalia?
If budget matters most, go with Mangalia. 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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