Last update: Oct 2026 Romania 324.6K

Cost of Living in Cluj-Napoca

For one person, living costs in Cluj-Napoca are estimated at $1,382 a month, including rent and utilities – 26% above the national average. Rent and utilities take just under half of the total.

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Cluj-Napoca

🇷🇴 Romania

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cluj-Napoca

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cluj-Napoca actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Living costs for one person come to about $1,382 monthly including rent, or $726 excluding housing.

$1,382 /mo

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $2,085 with rent, or $1,306 without housing.

$2,085 /mo

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,787 including rent, or $1,887 for daily expenses alone.

$2,787 /mo

Cluj-Napoca sits 0–3% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are 22% below average – relatively affordable for the region.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.81 RON 60.6

$8.54 RON 40.38

$19.22 RON 90.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.4 RON 267

$31.67 RON 150

$73.9 RON 349

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.34 RON 44.17

$6.65 RON 31.46

$10.38 RON 49.08

Cappuccino

$3.73 RON 17.66

$3.16 RON 14.96

$4.64 RON 21.94

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

$2.33 RON 11.00

$1.65 RON 7.80

$3.71 RON 17.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 RON 10.87

$1.46 RON 6.92

$3.13 RON 14.82

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.19 RON 15.11

$2.47 RON 11.68

$4.53 RON 21.41

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 RON 20.36

$3.23 RON 15.27

$5.38 RON 25.44

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.69

$1.07 RON 5.08

$2.15 RON 10.16

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 RON 7.18

$0.91 RON 4.32

$3.23 RON 15.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 RON 8.28

$1.03 RON 4.89

$2.48 RON 11.73

Eggs

$3.86 RON 18.26

$3.08 RON 14.59

$4.89 RON 23.14

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 RON 44.23

$4.82 RON 22.80

$20.97 RON 99.2

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.28 RON 34.44

$5.29 RON 25.01

$8.46 RON 40.02

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.45 RON 54.1

$8.31 RON 39.31

$16.17 RON 76.5

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 RON 6.78

$0.85 RON 4.04

$2.78 RON 13.13

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.78

$1.34 RON 6.34

$2.67 RON 12.64

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 RON 8.92

$1.24 RON 5.86

$2.89 RON 13.67

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 RON 11.82

$1.51 RON 7.15

$4.32 RON 20.44

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.59

$0.56 RON 2.67

$1.97 RON 9.33

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.32

$0.59 RON 2.78

$1.41 RON 6.69

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 RON 4.64

$0.43 RON 2.05

$1.30 RON 6.16

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 RON 4.83

$0.65 RON 3.07

$1.73 RON 8.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.12 RON 28.92

$6.02 RON 28.46

$7.13 RON 33.74

Wine (Bottle)

$7.37 RON 34.84

$4.21 RON 19.91

$10.52 RON 49.77

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 RON 6.06

$0.85 RON 4.04

$1.71 RON 8.08

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 RON 8.16

$0.90 RON 4.27

$2.50 RON 11.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 RON 3.64

$0.87 RON 4.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.49 RON 144

$22.56 RON 107

$44.48 RON 210

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 RON 4.07

$0.85 RON 4.03

$1.06 RON 5.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 RON 4.71

$0.88 RON 4.16

$1.10 RON 5.20

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.42 RON 39.82

$6.23 RON 29.48

$10.39 RON 49.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.93 RON 9.15

$1.62 RON 7.66

$2.15 RON 10.16

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

$28.2K RON 133.3K

$26.8K RON 126.7K

$28.2K RON 133.3K

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

$24.9K RON 117.8K

$24.2K RON 114.3K

$30.6K RON 144.5K

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

$157 RON 743

$108 RON 512

$252 RON 1,194

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

$8.59 RON 40.63

$4.31 RON 20.41

$15.41 RON 72.9

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.79 RON 46.30

$6.40 RON 30.26

$17.07 RON 80.7

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.00 RON 222

$31.82 RON 151

$58.3 RON 276

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.48 RON 106

$14.79 RON 70.0

$31.71 RON 150

Cinema Ticket

$9.65 RON 45.64

$8.58 RON 40.57

$10.72 RON 50.7

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

$591 RON 2,794

$529 RON 2,501

$846 RON 4,001

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 RON 45.9K

$6,956 RON 32.9K

$11.8K RON 55.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.2 RON 412

$30.88 RON 146

$124 RON 584

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.80 RON 217

$24.92 RON 118

$62.3 RON 295

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 RON 476

$84.6 RON 400

$127 RON 600

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 517

$73.8 RON 349

$148 RON 698

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 RON 2,981

$522 RON 2,469

$835 RON 3,950

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$519 RON 2,457

$417 RON 1,971

$668 RON 3,159

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,163 RON 5,499

$1,065 RON 5,035

$1,639 RON 7,754

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 RON 3,922

$737 RON 3,488

$1,274 RON 6,027

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,711 RON 22.3K

$4,095 RON 19.4K

$5,324 RON 25.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,394 RON 16.1K

$2,930 RON 13.9K

$3,797 RON 18.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,223 RON 5,783

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

5.5

7.2

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

Last update: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Cluj-Napoca $1,382

Accommodation & Living

$519 36.9%

Groceries & Markets

$235 16.7%

Eating Out

$218 15.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$175 12.5%

Clothing & Footwear

$154 11%

Sport & Entertainment

$66 4.7%

Getting Around

$39 2.8%

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $630 for a central one-bedroom, or $519 outside the center. At 52% of the average salary ($1,223), housing is the biggest financial pressure.

Average take-home pay sits at $1,223, while typical expenses reach $1,382. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $235 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $56.0 for two – well below the European average of $74.0.

Public transport is priced at around $30.49 per month – among the cheapest in Europe (average $49.00).

Cost Highlights

Internet is cheaper than 90% of cities in Europe

Cluj-Napoca is cheaper than 54% of cities worldwide and 72% within Europe.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

09:02 9:02 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

324,576

💱 Currency

Romanian Leu RON lei

📈 Exchange rate

1 RON = 0.211 USD

1 RON = 0.189 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Cluj-Napoca Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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🇪🇺 Europe

Cost of Living in Cluj-Napoca - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in Cluj-Napoca offers a favorable balance for travelers, expats, and digital nomads seeking quality without premium prices. Housing options range from compact city flats to larger apartments in leafy outskirts, with daily costs that shift by neighborhood. You’ll find good value in local markets, casual eateries, and transit-friendly layouts that let you live well on a moderate budget. The vibe is energetic but not overwhelming, and the tech scene supports affordable coworking and social meetups without sacrificing pace. Tip: start with a walkable core and test a few nearby areas before committing.

Cluj-Napoca living cost is something to plan around, yet remains approachable for a mix of short stays and longer assignments. You’ll find a blend of affordable casual meals, fresh markets, and flexible coworking spaces that suit different rhythms. For housing, consider central districts for walkability and proximity to cafés, or outer belts for more space, quiet mornings, and a lower daily tempo. Getting around is efficient via buses and trams, with bikes in warmer months. Errands are easiest near your home and in market hubs. Tip: map a core-to-perimeter plan to stabilize your budget.

Quality of life here comes from balancing work, social life, and local rhythms. A simple budgeting framework – cover essentials, flexible extras, and a small buffer – helps you ride seasonal shifts in leisure and transport. For neighborhoods, Centru offers walkability and nightlife, Gheorgheni adds space and calmer mornings, and nearby areas provide value with easy transit access. Embrace autumn markets, summer festivals, and cozy winter moments, all of which shape daily pace. Tip: set a monthly habit of tracking utility use, transit costs, and grocery trips to spot trends early.

As of 2026, monthly living costs in Cluj-Napoca come to around $1,382 including rent, or roughly $726 excluding it. Numbers shift a bit by season and neighborhood, but this range works well as a planning baseline.

At around $1,382 monthly all-in, Cluj-Napoca offers decent value. It's not the cheapest and not the priciest – a good fit for people who want city convenience without capital-level costs.

The typical net salary in Cluj-Napoca lands around $1,223 monthly. Some sectors pay significantly more, but this number gives you a realistic sense of what most full-time workers earn and how far it stretches against local costs.

Where you live in Cluj-Napoca makes all the difference. Central one-bedrooms cost about $630; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $519. Overall, the market runs from $519 to $630 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.

A monthly transit pass in Cluj-Napoca goes for roughly $30.49, which is one of the lighter items on a monthly budget. Coverage across residential and business areas is solid, and most residents without a car rely on it daily.

Childcare averages $591 monthly at a private kindergarten in Cluj-Napoca. For many families, this single cost rivals rent, so it's essential to factor in before making a move.

Living on $1,500 in Cluj-Napoca means careful planning, since monthly costs average $1,382. It works with a cheap apartment and disciplined spending, but expect trade-offs on where you live, how often you eat out, and entertainment.

Expats in Cluj-Napoca enjoy fast internet, low crime rates, vibrant nightlife, and monthly costs average around $1,382. The international crowd is active and welcoming, and practical stuff – bank accounts, apartment hunting, healthcare – is all manageable with some basic prep.

Monthly expenses in Cluj-Napoca run around $1,382, so putting money aside takes more than $2,074 in income. Keeping housing costs low and avoiding lifestyle creep are the keys to building a decent savings rate here.

Budget travel in Cluj-Napoca works but takes effort. Hostels, street food, and local restaurants keep daily costs reasonable. All-in monthly expenses run about $1,382 for residents – backpackers can do less with some planning.