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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,006 per month in Calarasi vs $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Calarasi vs $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,030 per month in Calarasi vs $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

Calarasi is about 27% cheaper than Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Calarasi sits 25% below the global median, while Cluj-Napoca is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 RON 43.84

$11.48 RON 50.1

-12.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.69 RON 121

$57.9 RON 253

-52.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.65 RON 33.34

$8.25 RON 35.98

-7.27%

Cappuccino

$2.68 RON 11.69

$3.53 RON 15.40

-24.08%

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

$1.48 RON 6.46

$2.33 RON 10.16

-36.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 RON 8.15

$2.22 RON 9.67

-15.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 RON 9.74

$3.19 RON 13.92

-30.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 RON 14.75

$3.90 RON 16.98

-13.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 RON 6.18

$1.72 RON 7.52

-17.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 RON 4.79

$1.31 RON 5.70

-16.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 RON 7.68

$1.89 RON 8.26

-6.88%

Eggs

$3.29 RON 14.34

$3.23 RON 14.10

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 RON 39.01

$9.79 RON 42.69

-8.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.10 RON 30.95

$7.15 RON 31.19

-0.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.08 RON 39.60

$11.97 RON 52.2

-24.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.16 RON 5.08

$1.23 RON 5.37

-5.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.46

$1.77 RON 7.72

-16.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 RON 5.82

$1.62 RON 7.07

-17.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 RON 8.22

$2.37 RON 10.34

-20.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 RON 3.27

$0.97 RON 4.21

-22.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 RON 3.86

$0.93 RON 4.06

-5.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 RON 3.08

$1.04 RON 4.52

-31.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 RON 3.70

$0.87 RON 3.78

-2.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.63 RON 24.56

$6.51 RON 28.40

-13.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.49 RON 19.56

$7.79 RON 33.97

-42.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RON 4.30

$1.17 RON 5.08

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 RON 5.93

$1.96 RON 8.53

-30.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 RON 2.07

$0.67 RON 2.93

-28.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.08 RON 61.4

$23.34 RON 102

-39.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 2.91

$1.00 RON 4.36

-33.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 RON 2.69

$0.82 RON 3.57

-24.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 RON 25.23

$9.52 RON 41.50

-39.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 6.92

$1.64 RON 7.14

-3.05%

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

$24.9K RON 108.6K

$28.3K RON 123.5K

-12.12%

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

$26.8K RON 116.9K

$26.9K RON 117.1K

-0.17%

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

$149 RON 649

$158 RON 688

-5.56%

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

$8.35 RON 36.41

$8.92 RON 38.87

-6.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.52 RON 32.77

$10.05 RON 43.81

-25.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 RON 304

$43.60 RON 190

59.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.43 RON 84.7

$20.27 RON 88.4

-4.14%

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 RON 25.50

$7.93 RON 34.56

-26.23%

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

$432 RON 1,883

$490 RON 2,136

-11.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,852 RON 29.9K

$10.5K RON 45.8K

-34.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.0 RON 366

$70.7 RON 308

18.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.91 RON 187

$40.62 RON 177

5.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.6 RON 321

$85.1 RON 371

-13.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.5 RON 425

$99.6 RON 434

-2.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$389 RON 1,696

$719 RON 3,135

-45.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 RON 1,000

$558 RON 2,432

-58.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 RON 2,533

$1,274 RON 5,554

-54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 RON 1,612

$951 RON 4,144

-61.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,261 RON 5,496

$4,661 RON 20.3K

-72.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,013 RON 4,418

$3,361 RON 14.7K

-69.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$779 RON 3,394

$1,415 RON 6,171

-44.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

5.85

13.16%

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

Last update for Calarasi: April 26, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Calarasi versus $719 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 82% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi versus $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $232 – making Calarasi 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

Calarasi vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,006 in Calarasi, $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca – roughly 37% apart. Cluj-Napoca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,509 per month in Calarasi and $2,063 in Cluj-Napoca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $432 per month in Calarasi and $490 in Cluj-Napoca. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Cluj-Napoca, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $1,006, than in Cluj-Napoca at $1,375. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cluj-Napoca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Cluj-Napoca has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,006 in Calarasi to $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. 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.