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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,125 per month in Iasi vs $1,031 in Mangalia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Iasi vs $1,560 in Mangalia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,276 per month in Iasi vs $2,088 in Mangalia, rent included.

Iasi costs about 9% more than Mangalia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Iasi and Mangalia are more affordable than the global median – Iasi 16% lower, Mangalia 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.23 RON 46.73
$9.76 RON 44.60
4.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.83 RON 228
$42.24 RON 193
17.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.04 RON 32.16
$7.97 RON 36.41
-11.67%
Cappuccino
$2.71 RON 12.36
$2.60 RON 11.89
4.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 RON 9.30
$1.99 RON 9.10
2.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 RON 8.07
$1.91 RON 8.72
-7.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 RON 11.83
$2.35 RON 10.74
10.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 RON 16.02
$3.48 RON 15.92
0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 RON 6.57
$1.42 RON 6.47
1.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 RON 5.67
$1.09 RON 4.96
13.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 RON 8.30
$1.70 RON 7.75
7.06%
Eggs
$3.25 RON 14.84
$3.25 RON 14.84
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 RON 36.79
$8.68 RON 39.68
-7.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.67 RON 30.45
$6.96 RON 31.79
-4.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.87 RON 49.67
$9.08 RON 41.49
19.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 RON 5.42
$1.21 RON 5.55
-1.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 RON 7.12
$1.47 RON 6.72
6.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 RON 8.17
$1.32 RON 6.04
35.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 RON 8.74
$1.87 RON 8.56
2.14%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.43
$0.81 RON 3.72
19.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 RON 4.81
$0.89 RON 4.04
17.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.56
$0.74 RON 3.38
35.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 RON 3.75
$0.81 RON 3.70
1.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08 RON 27.77
$5.65 RON 25.82
7.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.58 RON 30.07
$7.13 RON 32.57
-7.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 RON 4.94
$0.89 RON 4.08
21.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 RON 9.07
$1.37 RON 6.24
45.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 RON 3.86
$0.67 RON 3.06
25.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.69 RON 127
$19.45 RON 88.8
42.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 RON 4.27
$0.72 RON 3.28
30.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 RON 3.25
$0.64 RON 2.94
10.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.95 RON 36.31
$5.86 RON 26.75
35.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 RON 7.71
$1.54 RON 7.02
9.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K RON 127.7K
$24.6K RON 112.5K
13.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K RON 126.2K
$26.7K RON 122.0K
3.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 RON 721
$145 RON 662
8.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.50 RON 38.84
$6.56 RON 29.95
29.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.15 RON 46.36
$10.04 RON 45.85
1.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.14 RON 215
$40.67 RON 186
15.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.35 RON 83.9
$19.48 RON 89.0
-5.80%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04 RON 36.73
$6.72 RON 30.71
19.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 RON 2,174
$424 RON 1,938
12.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,066 RON 32.3K
$7,030 RON 32.1K
0.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0 RON 279
$81.6 RON 373
-25.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.58 RON 199
$41.77 RON 191
4.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.2 RON 394
$73.2 RON 334
17.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0 RON 407
$98.8 RON 451
-9.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 RON 2,145
$385 RON 1,759
21.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 RON 1,600
$285 RON 1,302
22.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$746 RON 3,409
$588 RON 2,686
26.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 RON 2,444
$432 RON 1,975
23.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,064 RON 14.0K
$2,146 RON 9,806
42.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,997 RON 9,122
$1,499 RON 6,850
33.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iasi
Mangalia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,158 RON 5,291
$781 RON 3,569
48.24%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Mangalia: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Iasi versus $385 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 48% 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 $50.0 in Iasi versus $42.00 in Mangalia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $201 – 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 in Mangalia compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,125 in Iasi, $1,031 in Mangalia – roughly 9% 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 $1,688 per month in Iasi and $1,547 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 in Mangalia?
Public transport costs about 42% 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 $476 per month in Iasi and $424 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 $1,031, than in Iasi at $1,125. 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 $1,031 in Mangalia to $1,125 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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