Cost of Living Comparison Between Braila and Cluj-Napoca Cost of Living Comparison Between Braila and Cluj-Napoca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Braila versus $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,667 in Braila versus $2,124 in Cluj-Napoca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,247 in Braila versus $2,887 in Cluj-Napoca.

Living in Braila costs roughly 20% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Braila is 18% below, Cluj-Napoca is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.59 RON 62.1
$11.38 RON 52.0
19.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.30 RON 207
$57.6 RON 263
-21.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.84 RON 35.81
$7.94 RON 36.25
-1.26%
Cappuccino
$2.76 RON 12.61
$3.53 RON 16.13
-21.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 RON 8.69
$2.37 RON 10.84
-19.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 RON 7.86
$2.12 RON 9.70
-18.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 RON 10.77
$3.13 RON 14.29
-24.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 RON 15.10
$4.02 RON 18.35
-17.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 7.00
$1.77 RON 8.08
-13.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 RON 5.93
$1.31 RON 5.97
-0.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 RON 8.69
$1.81 RON 8.29
4.97%
Eggs
$3.46 RON 15.82
$3.34 RON 15.24
3.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.47 RON 38.66
$9.83 RON 44.90
-13.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 RON 29.53
$7.27 RON 33.21
-11.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 RON 47.50
$12.00 RON 54.8
-13.33%
Apples (1kg)
$1.22 RON 5.57
$1.23 RON 5.62
-0.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 RON 7.67
$1.77 RON 8.08
-5.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.79
$1.56 RON 7.12
9.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 RON 8.80
$2.36 RON 10.79
-18.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 RON 3.86
$0.94 RON 4.31
-10.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 RON 5.20
$0.97 RON 4.43
17.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 RON 3.05
$1.09 RON 4.98
-38.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 RON 3.46
$0.92 RON 4.21
-17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83 RON 26.64
$6.44 RON 29.40
-9.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.46 RON 29.50
$7.54 RON 34.42
-14.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 RON 5.07
$1.17 RON 5.33
-5.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 RON 7.38
$1.96 RON 8.95
-17.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.62 RON 2.81
$0.67 RON 3.05
-7.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.41 RON 74.9
$23.24 RON 106
-29.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 RON 4.29
$0.99 RON 4.51
-5.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 RON 2.96
$0.82 RON 3.75
-20.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.64 RON 34.90
$9.11 RON 41.61
-16.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 7.00
$1.69 RON 7.70
-9.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K RON 129.1K
$28.4K RON 129.9K
-0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K RON 124.5K
$27.0K RON 123.4K
0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 RON 690
$158 RON 723
-4.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.70 RON 35.16
$8.72 RON 39.83
-11.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.00 RON 41.08
$9.91 RON 45.28
-9.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.79 RON 159
$43.33 RON 198
-19.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.93 RON 63.6
$20.21 RON 92.3
-31.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.81 RON 31.08
$7.86 RON 35.91
-13.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$294 RON 1,344
$492 RON 2,249
-40.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,926 RON 31.6K
$10.5K RON 47.9K
-33.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 RON 312
$70.0 RON 320
-2.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 RON 248
$41.01 RON 187
32.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 RON 324
$84.2 RON 385
-15.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 RON 515
$101 RON 462
11.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 RON 1,745
$712 RON 3,250
-46.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 RON 1,402
$548 RON 2,502
-43.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 RON 2,623
$1,267 RON 5,788
-54.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 RON 2,110
$940 RON 4,294
-50.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,936 RON 8,838
$4,857 RON 22.2K
-60.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,395 RON 6,370
$3,404 RON 15.5K
-59.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Braila
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$877 RON 4,003
$1,325 RON 6,050
-33.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.78
5.85
15.90%

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

Last update for Braila: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Braila and $712 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cluj-Napoca pays 51% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Braila vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $233 per month, with Braila cheaper across the board.

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
Braila vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Braila or Cluj-Napoca?
Braila wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Cluj-Napoca. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Braila the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Braila or in Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Cluj-Napoca. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Braila compared to Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Braila versus $712 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Braila compared to Cluj-Napoca?
A monthly transit pass in Braila runs roughly 42% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Braila and in Cluj-Napoca?
Childcare runs $294 in Braila versus $492 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Braila or in Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,086 in Braila versus $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Braila but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Braila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Braila or Cluj-Napoca?
Both work as nomad bases, but Braila delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,086 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Braila hard to pass up.
How safe is Braila compared to Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Braila and Cluj-Napoca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Braila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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