😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,118 in Galati.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,111 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,722 in Galati.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,848 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,327 in Galati.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 23% more expensive than Galati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 2% above, Galati is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58RON 52.4
$11.30RON 51.1
2.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8RON 261
$46.26RON 209
24.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08RON 36.53
$8.28RON 37.47
-2.42%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 15.99
$2.63RON 11.91
34.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RON 10.40
$2.21RON 10.00
4.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RON 9.65
$1.92RON 8.68
10.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28RON 14.84
$2.26RON 10.21
45.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RON 18.18
$3.43RON 15.52
17.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79RON 8.11
$1.40RON 6.33
27.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RON 6.10
$0.90RON 4.06
50.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.56
$1.92RON 8.70
-1.56%
Eggs
$3.26RON 14.75
$3.79RON 17.13
-13.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.25RON 46.36
$8.67RON 39.20
18.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06RON 31.96
$6.34RON 28.69
11.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06RON 54.6
$9.04RON 40.90
33.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.36
$1.24RON 5.63
-4.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.80
$1.72RON 7.77
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63RON 7.39
$1.66RON 7.51
-1.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42RON 10.93
$1.84RON 8.34
31.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.30
$1.06RON 4.79
-10.38%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.23
$1.10RON 4.96
-15.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RON 4.89
$0.95RON 4.29
13.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 3.99
$0.75RON 3.37
17.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56RON 29.67
$5.91RON 26.75
11.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76RON 35.09
$5.61RON 25.37
38.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16RON 5.23
$0.93RON 4.19
24.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.86
$1.30RON 5.86
50.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.02
$0.60RON 2.70
11.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.65RON 102
$26.44RON 120
-14.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.51
$0.73RON 3.31
36.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.90
$0.61RON 2.78
40.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.43RON 42.67
$7.44RON 33.65
26.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RON 7.71
$1.54RON 6.95
10.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 128.9K
$28.2KRON 127.5K
1.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 120.8K
$26.1KRON 118.1K
2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156RON 704
$161RON 727
-3.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13RON 41.29
$8.36RON 37.82
9.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.87RON 44.65
$8.64RON 39.09
14.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.65RON 202
$33.52RON 152
33.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25RON 91.6
$38.57RON 174
-47.50%
Cinema Ticket
$8.27RON 37.39
$6.56RON 29.68
26.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481RON 2,176
$647RON 2,927
-25.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 47.5K
$5,517RON 25.0K
90.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5RON 314
$100.0RON 452
-30.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69RON 184
$35.13RON 159
15.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5RON 382
$63.7RON 288
32.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9RON 452
$98.6RON 446
1.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707RON 3,196
$437RON 1,978
61.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564RON 2,552
$349RON 1,577
61.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,261RON 5,706
$636RON 2,877
98.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$930RON 4,209
$536RON 2,426
73.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,832RON 21.9K
$1,678RON 7,590
187.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,491RON 15.8K
$1,257RON 5,685
177.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,369RON 6,194
$934RON 4,225
46.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
6.5
-10.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 8, 2026
Last update for Galati: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $707 in Cluj-Napoca and $437 in Galati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 47% 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: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $46.00 in Galati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $200 per month, with Galati 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
Cluj-Napoca vs Galati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Galati cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Galati is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Galati?
Cluj-Napoca pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cluj-Napoca and Galati?
Rent for a central apartment: $707 in Cluj-Napoca versus $437 in Galati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Galati runs roughly 17% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $481 in Cluj-Napoca versus $647 in Galati. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Cluj-Napoca or Galati?
At $1,118 in Galati versus $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Galati but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Galati the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Galati more family-friendly?
For families, Galati is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cluj-Napoca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cluj-Napoca or Galati?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Galati 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Galati gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cluj-Napoca vs other spots: cost of living compared