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 $907 per month in Calarasi vs $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,389 per month in Calarasi vs $2,213 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Calarasi vs $2,938 in Cluj-Napoca, rent included.

Calarasi is about 39% cheaper than Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Calarasi sits 34% below the global median, while Cluj-Napoca is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.92 RON 36.05

$13.48 RON 61.3

-41.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.22 RON 119

$57.1 RON 260

-54.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.37 RON 38.10

$10.07 RON 45.83

-16.88%

Cappuccino

$2.15 RON 9.80

$3.92 RON 17.84

-45.15%

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

$1.45 RON 6.58

$2.47 RON 11.27

-41.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 RON 7.91

$2.47 RON 11.22

-29.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 RON 4.92

$3.36 RON 15.31

-67.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 RON 7.18

$4.46 RON 20.31

-64.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 7.24

$1.74 RON 7.91

-8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 RON 4.16

$1.59 RON 7.25

-42.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 RON 7.06

$1.86 RON 8.45

-16.67%

Eggs

$2.88 RON 13.12

$3.90 RON 17.77

-26.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.27 RON 37.66

$9.69 RON 44.09

-14.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 RON 20.64

$7.78 RON 35.44

-41.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.88 RON 40.41

$12.11 RON 55.1

-26.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.35

$1.49 RON 6.76

-20.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 RON 6.44

$1.79 RON 8.16

-21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.13

$1.96 RON 8.94

-31.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 RON 7.10

$2.57 RON 11.71

-39.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 RON 1.94

$1.00 RON 4.55

-57.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 RON 3.08

$1.05 RON 4.77

-35.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 RON 2.06

$1.03 RON 4.71

-56.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RON 3.92

$1.03 RON 4.70

-16.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.60 RON 30.04

$6.76 RON 30.75

-2.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.30 RON 19.57

$7.54 RON 34.33

-42.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 RON 4.48

$1.29 RON 5.86

-24.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 RON 6.95

$1.86 RON 8.46

-17.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 RON 1.94

$0.79 RON 3.61

-45.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.04 RON 59.4

$32.36 RON 147

-59.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 RON 3.09

$0.92 RON 4.17

-26.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 RON 2.93

$0.98 RON 4.45

-34.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 RON 30.71

$9.12 RON 41.51

-25.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 RON 7.68

$1.91 RON 8.67

-11.52%

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

$29.7K RON 135.2K

$29.3K RON 133.5K

1.31%

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

$26.0K RON 118.3K

$26.1K RON 119.0K

-0.56%

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

$163 RON 740

$165 RON 749

-1.28%

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

$6.48 RON 29.51

$8.94 RON 40.69

-27.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.09 RON 32.25

$10.16 RON 46.26

-30.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.88 RON 223

$49.99 RON 228

-2.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.9 RON 250

$23.35 RON 106

135.29%

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 RON 41.02

$9.93 RON 45.22

-9.26%

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

$427 RON 1,945

$624 RON 2,842

-31.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,233 RON 28.4K

$10.0K RON 45.6K

-37.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.9 RON 355

$93.8 RON 427

-16.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.40 RON 102

$49.38 RON 225

-54.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 RON 434

$103 RON 470

-7.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 RON 464

$117 RON 533

-13.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$326 RON 1,484

$677 RON 3,081

-51.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 RON 907

$557 RON 2,537

-64.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 2,002

$1,195 RON 5,441

-63.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 RON 1,556

$844 RON 3,844

-59.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 RON 5,656

$4,864 RON 22.1K

-74.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$975 RON 4,440

$3,549 RON 16.2K

-72.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$749 RON 3,408

$1,340 RON 6,102

-44.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.85

6.8

15.44%

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

Last update for Calarasi: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $326 in Calarasi 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 79% 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 $26.00 in Calarasi versus $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $246 – 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: $907 in Calarasi, $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca – roughly 64% apart. Cluj-Napoca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,360 per month in Calarasi and $2,232 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 $427 per month in Calarasi and $624 in Cluj-Napoca. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 40% 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 $907, than in Cluj-Napoca at $1,488. 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 $907 in Calarasi to $1,488 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.