Last update: Oct 2026 Romania 324.6K

Cost of Living in Cluj-Napoca

For one person, living costs in Cluj-Napoca are estimated at $1,413 a month, including rent and utilities – 27% above the national average. Rent and utilities take about 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 $1,413 monthly including rent, or $728 excluding housing.

$1,413 /mo

Estimated monthly costs for a couple: $2,122 with rent, or $1,291 without housing.

$2,122 /mo

Monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,831 including rent, or $1,854 for daily expenses alone.

$2,831 /mo

Cluj-Napoca sits 1–4% above the global median across household types. Within Europe, costs are 20% below average – relatively affordable for the region.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.53 RON 59.3

$8.35 RON 39.53

$18.80 RON 89.0

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.5 RON 258

$31.65 RON 150

$73.9 RON 349

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.73 RON 46.01

$7.14 RON 33.77

$10.81 RON 51.2

Cappuccino

$3.68 RON 17.42

$3.14 RON 14.84

$4.60 RON 21.74

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

$2.31 RON 10.92

$1.64 RON 7.74

$3.69 RON 17.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 RON 10.93

$1.69 RON 8.02

$3.19 RON 15.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 RON 15.24

$2.50 RON 11.83

$4.57 RON 21.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 RON 20.14

$3.20 RON 15.12

$5.32 RON 25.17

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.69

$1.08 RON 5.11

$2.17 RON 10.28

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.78

$0.87 RON 4.11

$3.08 RON 14.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 RON 8.63

$1.08 RON 5.09

$2.59 RON 12.26

Eggs

$3.82 RON 18.08

$3.07 RON 14.53

$4.86 RON 23.02

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.16 RON 43.34

$4.76 RON 22.51

$20.69 RON 97.9

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.08 RON 33.50

$5.17 RON 24.44

$8.27 RON 39.12

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.76 RON 55.7

$8.54 RON 40.40

$16.61 RON 78.6

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.64

$0.85 RON 4.02

$2.77 RON 13.10

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 RON 8.03

$1.39 RON 6.59

$2.78 RON 13.17

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 RON 8.96

$1.24 RON 5.85

$2.89 RON 13.69

Tomato (1kg)

$2.42 RON 11.43

$1.49 RON 7.03

$4.26 RON 20.14

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 RON 4.36

$0.43 RON 2.01

$1.91 RON 9.06

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RON 4.15

$0.51 RON 2.39

$1.40 RON 6.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 RON 4.59

$0.43 RON 2.03

$1.29 RON 6.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.61

$0.61 RON 2.90

$1.64 RON 7.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.21 RON 29.39

$6.10 RON 28.87

$7.24 RON 34.27

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 RON 35.66

$4.31 RON 20.37

$10.77 RON 51.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 RON 5.96

$0.85 RON 4.04

$1.71 RON 8.07

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 RON 8.05

$0.89 RON 4.23

$2.49 RON 11.77

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.42

$0.82 RON 3.88

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.02 RON 147

$22.95 RON 109

$45.26 RON 214

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 4.17

$0.87 RON 4.12

$1.09 RON 5.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 RON 4.40

$0.82 RON 3.89

$1.03 RON 4.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 RON 40.26

$6.30 RON 29.83

$10.50 RON 49.70

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 RON 9.08

$1.61 RON 7.60

$2.13 RON 10.08

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

$28.9K RON 136.7K

$28.9K RON 136.8K

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

$24.4K RON 115.2K

$23.7K RON 112.1K

$24.8K RON 117.2K

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

$156 RON 739

$109 RON 516

$254 RON 1,204

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

$8.74 RON 41.34

$4.30 RON 20.33

$16.12 RON 76.3

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.61 RON 45.46

$6.43 RON 30.40

$17.12 RON 81.0

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.29 RON 219

$31.34 RON 148

$57.5 RON 272

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.98 RON 104

$14.47 RON 68.5

$31.00 RON 147

Cinema Ticket

$9.27 RON 43.87

$8.24 RON 39.01

$10.31 RON 48.78

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

$587 RON 2,775

$525 RON 2,484

$840 RON 3,975

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,749 RON 46.1K

$6,994 RON 33.1K

$11.9K RON 56.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.1 RON 426

$31.92 RON 151

$128 RON 604

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.13 RON 218

$25.10 RON 119

$62.7 RON 297

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 RON 465

$82.6 RON 391

$124 RON 586

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 RON 522

$74.4 RON 352

$149 RON 704

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$623 RON 2,950

$517 RON 2,446

$827 RON 3,913

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$529 RON 2,502

$425 RON 2,010

$679 RON 3,212

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 RON 5,407

$1,047 RON 4,955

$1,613 RON 7,631

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$820 RON 3,881

$728 RON 3,444

$1,262 RON 5,969

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,578 RON 21.7K

$3,973 RON 18.8K

$5,180 RON 24.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,358 RON 15.9K

$2,893 RON 13.7K

$3,759 RON 17.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,261 RON 5,964

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.65

5.5

7.2

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

Last update: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Cluj-Napoca $1,413

Accommodation & Living

$529 37.5%

Groceries & Markets

$233 16.5%

Eating Out

$217 15.3%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$175 12.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$155 11%

Sport & Entertainment

$65 4.6%

Getting Around

$39 2.8%

Cost Breakdown

Expect to pay about $623 for a central one-bedroom, or $529 outside the center. At 49% of the average salary ($1,261), housing is the biggest financial pressure.

Average take-home pay sits at $1,261, while typical expenses reach $1,413. The gap means tight budgeting for locals, though expats with foreign income can live comfortably.

Expect to spend about $233 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant costs roughly $54.0 for two – well below the European average of $74.0.

Public transport is priced at around $31.02 per month – among the cheapest in Europe (average $49.00).

Cost Highlights

Internet is cheaper than 91% of cities in Europe

Cluj-Napoca is cheaper than 53% of cities worldwide and 70% within Europe.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

08:08 8:08 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

324,576

💱 Currency

Romanian Leu RON lei

📈 Exchange rate

1 RON = 0.211 USD

1 RON = 0.188 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 $1,413 including rent, or roughly $728 excluding it. Numbers shift a bit by season and neighborhood, but this range works well as a planning baseline.

At around $1,413 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 $1,261 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 $623; commute-friendly outer districts come in around $529. Overall, the market runs from $529 to $623 depending on size, location, and apartment condition.

A monthly transit pass in Cluj-Napoca goes for roughly $31.02, 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 $587 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 $1,413. 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 $1,413. 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 $1,413, so putting money aside takes more than $2,119 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 $1,413 for residents – backpackers can do less with some planning.