Cost of Living Comparison Between As-salimiyah and Cluj-Napoca Cost of Living Comparison Between As-salimiyah and Cluj-Napoca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,352 per month in As-salimiyah vs $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,273 per month in As-salimiyah vs $2,213 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,194 per month in As-salimiyah vs $2,938 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

As-salimiyah is about 9% cheaper than Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

As-salimiyah sits 2% below the global median, while Cluj-Napoca is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.89 KWD 3.98
$13.48 RON 60.9
-4.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 KWD 18.07
$57.1 RON 258
2.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.93 KWD 2.45
$10.07 RON 45.46
-21.25%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.17 KWD 0.98
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 KWD 0.49
-
-
Cappuccino
$5.37 KWD 1.66
$3.92 RON 17.69
36.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 KWD 0.23
$2.47 RON 11.18
-69.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 KWD 0.11
$2.47 RON 11.14
-86.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.36 RON 15.19
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.46 RON 20.15
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 KWD 0.40
$1.74 RON 7.85
-26.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 KWD 0.23
$1.59 RON 7.19
-52.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 KWD 0.61
$1.86 RON 8.39
6.45%
Eggs
$2.06 KWD 0.64
$3.90 RON 17.62
-47.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.45 KWD 1.37
$9.69 RON 43.74
-54.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.47 KWD 1.69
$7.78 RON 35.16
-29.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.44 KWD 2.91
$12.11 RON 54.7
-22.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.15 KWD 0.66
$1.49 RON 6.71
44.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 KWD 0.49
$1.79 RON 8.09
-11.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 KWD 0.41
$1.96 RON 8.87
-31.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 KWD 0.46
$2.57 RON 11.62
-42.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.31 KWD 0.41
$1.00 RON 4.52
31.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 KWD 0.24
$1.05 RON 4.73
-24.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.64 KWD 0.51
$1.03 RON 4.67
59.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 KWD 0.15
$1.03 RON 4.67
-51.46%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.32 KWD 1.02
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 KWD 0.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 KWD 0.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72 KWD 0.84
$6.76 RON 30.51
-59.76%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.54 RON 34.06
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.29 RON 5.81
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 RON 8.39
-
🚌 Getting Around
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 KWD 0.29
$0.79 RON 3.59
17.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.99 KWD 15.13
$32.36 RON 146
51.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 KWD 1.02
$0.92 RON 4.14
259.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.17 KWD 0.98
$0.98 RON 4.41
223.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.47 KWD 5.09
$9.12 RON 41.18
80.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.32 KWD 0.10
$1.91 RON 8.60
-83.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K KWD 6,396
$29.3K RON 132.4K
-29.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K KWD 6,256
$26.1K RON 118.0K
-22.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.77 KWD 10.12
$165 RON 743
-80.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.76 KWD 6.41
$8.94 RON 40.37
132.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.42 KWD 9.39
$10.16 RON 45.89
199.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.6 KWD 29.52
$49.99 RON 226
91.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.2 KWD 20.13
$23.35 RON 105
179.10%
Cinema Ticket
$11.11 KWD 3.43
$9.93 RON 44.86
11.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 KWD 85.0
$624 RON 2,819
-55.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,291 KWD 1,943
$10.0K RON 45.2K
-37.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.48 KWD 11.57
$93.8 RON 424
-60.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.10 KWD 11.76
$49.38 RON 223
-22.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 KWD 27.69
$103 RON 466
-13.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8 KWD 20.01
$117 RON 529
-44.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$889 KWD 275
$677 RON 3,056
31.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$641 KWD 198
$557 RON 2,517
14.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,767 KWD 546
$1,195 RON 5,398
47.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 KWD 422
$844 RON 3,814
61.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,864 RON 22.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,549 RON 16.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
As-salimiyah
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,784 KWD 860
$1,340 RON 6,053
107.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.8
-3.97%

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

Last update for As-salimiyah: September 6, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $889 in As-salimiyah versus $677 in Cluj-Napoca. 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 108% higher in As-salimiyah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in As-salimiyah versus $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Groceries tell a different story – $157 in As-salimiyah vs $246 in Cluj-Napoca – so As-salimiyah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
As-salimiyah vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than As-salimiyah?
Yes – Cluj-Napoca is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,029 per month in As-salimiyah and $2,232 in Cluj-Napoca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in As-salimiyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in As-salimiyah and in Cluj-Napoca?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,352 in As-salimiyah and $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 51% less in As-salimiyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in As-salimiyah or in Cluj-Napoca?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in As-salimiyah, where all-in costs run around $1,352, than in Cluj-Napoca at $1,488. In As-salimiyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cluj-Napoca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is As-salimiyah or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward As-salimiyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, As-salimiyah or Cluj-Napoca?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with As-salimiyah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cluj-Napoca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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