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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Cluj-Napoca costs about 64% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.48 RON 61.3

$7.92 RON 36.05

70.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.1 RON 260

$26.22 RON 119

117.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 RON 45.83

$8.37 RON 38.10

20.31%

Cappuccino

$3.92 RON 17.84

$2.15 RON 9.80

82.33%

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

$2.47 RON 11.27

$1.45 RON 6.58

70.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 RON 11.22

$1.74 RON 7.91

41.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 RON 15.31

$1.08 RON 4.92

211.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 RON 20.31

$1.58 RON 7.18

182.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 RON 7.91

$1.59 RON 7.24

9.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 RON 7.25

$0.91 RON 4.16

74.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 RON 8.45

$1.55 RON 7.06

20.00%

Eggs

$3.90 RON 17.77

$2.88 RON 13.12

35.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 RON 44.09

$8.27 RON 37.66

17.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 RON 35.44

$4.54 RON 20.64

71.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 RON 55.1

$8.88 RON 40.41

36.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.76

$1.18 RON 5.35

26.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 RON 8.16

$1.41 RON 6.44

26.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 RON 8.94

$1.35 RON 6.13

45.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 RON 11.71

$1.56 RON 7.10

64.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 RON 4.55

$0.43 RON 1.94

132.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 RON 4.77

$0.68 RON 3.08

54.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 RON 4.71

$0.45 RON 2.06

128.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 RON 4.70

$0.86 RON 3.92

19.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 RON 30.75

$6.60 RON 30.04

2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 RON 34.33

$4.30 RON 19.57

75.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.86

$0.98 RON 4.48

31.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 RON 8.46

$1.53 RON 6.95

21.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 RON 3.61

$0.43 RON 1.94

83.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 RON 147

$13.04 RON 59.4

148.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 RON 4.17

$0.68 RON 3.09

35.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 RON 4.45

$0.64 RON 2.93

53.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.12 RON 41.51

$6.75 RON 30.71

35.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 RON 8.67

$1.69 RON 7.68

13.02%

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

$29.3K RON 133.5K

$29.7K RON 135.2K

-1.29%

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

$26.1K RON 119.0K

$26.0K RON 118.3K

0.56%

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

$165 RON 749

$163 RON 740

1.29%

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

$8.94 RON 40.69

$6.48 RON 29.51

37.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.16 RON 46.26

$7.09 RON 32.25

43.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.99 RON 228

$48.88 RON 223

2.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.35 RON 106

$54.9 RON 250

-57.50%

Cinema Ticket

$9.93 RON 45.22

$9.01 RON 41.02

10.21%

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

$624 RON 2,842

$427 RON 1,945

46.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K RON 45.6K

$6,233 RON 28.4K

60.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.8 RON 427

$77.9 RON 355

20.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.38 RON 225

$22.40 RON 102

120.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 RON 470

$95.4 RON 434

8.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 RON 533

$102 RON 464

14.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$677 RON 3,081

$326 RON 1,484

107.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 RON 2,537

$199 RON 907

179.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 RON 5,441

$440 RON 2,002

171.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$844 RON 3,844

$342 RON 1,556

147.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,864 RON 22.1K

$1,243 RON 5,656

291.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,549 RON 16.2K

$975 RON 4,440

263.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,340 RON 6,102

$749 RON 3,408

79.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

7.85

-13.38%

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

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: September 8, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $677 in Cluj-Napoca versus $326 in Calarasi. 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 $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca versus $26.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $176 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca, $907 in Calarasi – roughly 64% apart. Cluj-Napoca costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,232 per month in Cluj-Napoca and $1,360 in Calarasi. 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 $624 per month in Cluj-Napoca and $427 in Calarasi. 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.