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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,053 per month in Calafat vs $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,537 per month in Calafat vs $2,234 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,021 per month in Calafat vs $2,972 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

Calafat is about 30% cheaper than Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Calafat sits 23% below the global median, while Cluj-Napoca is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.57 RON 34.16
$13.28 RON 59.9
-43.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.29 RON 168
$57.0 RON 257
-34.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 RON 35.96
$10.13 RON 45.72
-21.42%
Cappuccino
$2.16 RON 9.74
$3.92 RON 17.68
-44.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.09
$2.54 RON 11.46
-38.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 RON 4.18
$2.39 RON 10.79
-61.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 RON 4.87
$3.24 RON 14.62
-66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 RON 9.22
$4.36 RON 19.71
-53.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 RON 5.42
$1.74 RON 7.85
-31.03%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 RON 3.65
$1.57 RON 7.07
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 RON 6.44
$1.90 RON 8.59
-24.74%
Eggs
$2.42 RON 10.90
$3.99 RON 18.03
-39.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.39 RON 33.35
$9.70 RON 43.79
-23.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 RON 29.58
$7.75 RON 34.98
-15.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.85 RON 30.94
$12.36 RON 55.8
-44.58%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 RON 4.61
$1.51 RON 6.83
-32.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 RON 6.79
$1.81 RON 8.16
-17.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 RON 6.12
$2.01 RON 9.09
-32.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 RON 6.90
$2.63 RON 11.88
-41.83%
Potato (1kg)
$0.64 RON 2.89
$1.00 RON 4.54
-36.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 RON 3.45
$1.00 RON 4.53
-24.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 RON 3.28
$0.98 RON 4.42
-25.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 RON 3.46
$1.07 RON 4.82
-28.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 RON 24.70
$6.74 RON 30.41
-18.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.80 RON 30.70
$7.76 RON 35.04
-12.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 RON 4.14
$1.29 RON 5.81
-28.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 RON 7.22
$1.80 RON 8.13
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 RON 3.69
$0.78 RON 3.53
5.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 RON 103
$31.80 RON 144
-28.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 RON 2.47
$0.97 RON 4.38
-43.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 RON 2.57
$1.01 RON 4.57
-43.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.46 RON 29.18
$9.00 RON 40.65
-28.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.58 RON 7.15
$1.91 RON 8.64
-17.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K RON 125.0K
$30.2K RON 136.3K
-8.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K RON 124.2K
$26.4K RON 119.2K
4.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 RON 995
$168 RON 756
31.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.87 RON 35.53
$8.78 RON 39.66
-10.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.69 RON 30.19
$10.41 RON 46.98
-35.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.93 RON 185
$48.20 RON 218
-15.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.32 RON 96.2
$23.92 RON 108
-10.87%
Cinema Ticket
$8.41 RON 37.97
$10.15 RON 45.82
-17.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$444 RON 2,003
$613 RON 2,769
-27.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,681 RON 39.2K
$10.1K RON 45.6K
-14.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5 RON 309
$92.4 RON 417
-25.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.35 RON 200
$47.93 RON 216
-7.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 RON 359
$105 RON 473
-24.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 RON 397
$112 RON 508
-21.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$409 RON 1,848
$665 RON 3,002
-38.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$299 RON 1,350
$548 RON 2,473
-45.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 RON 2,910
$1,212 RON 5,473
-46.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$473 RON 2,137
$858 RON 3,876
-44.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,965 RON 8,871
$4,765 RON 21.5K
-58.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,393 RON 6,290
$3,587 RON 16.2K
-61.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calafat
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$845 RON 3,813
$1,365 RON 6,163
-38.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
6.8
-11.76%

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

Last update for Calafat: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Calafat versus $665 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 62% higher in Cluj-Napoca, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Calafat versus $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $248 – making Calafat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Calafat vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Calafat and in Cluj-Napoca compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,053 in Calafat, $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca – roughly 42% apart. Cluj-Napoca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Calafat compared to Cluj-Napoca?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,580 per month in Calafat and $2,246 in Cluj-Napoca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Calafat and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calafat, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Calafat or Cluj-Napoca?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,053 in Calafat and $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Calafat and in Cluj-Napoca?
Public transport costs about 40% less in Calafat. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calafat, where all-in costs run around $1,053, than in Cluj-Napoca at $1,497. In Calafat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cluj-Napoca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Calafat and Cluj-Napoca?
It depends on your priorities. Cluj-Napoca has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,053 in Calafat to $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Calafat or Cluj-Napoca safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Calafat and Cluj-Napoca?
If budget matters most, go with Calafat. 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.

Calafat vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities