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