😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,136 in Galati.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,731 in Galati.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,327 in Galati.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 21% more expensive than Galati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 3% above, Galati is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48RON 50.1
$11.70RON 51.0
-1.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9RON 253
$45.48RON 198
27.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25RON 35.98
$8.02RON 34.97
2.87%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 15.40
$2.65RON 11.56
33.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33RON 10.16
$2.21RON 9.62
5.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22RON 9.67
$1.84RON 8.04
20.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19RON 13.92
$2.32RON 10.12
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90RON 16.98
$3.31RON 14.43
17.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.52
$1.34RON 5.85
28.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31RON 5.70
$0.89RON 3.89
47.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.26
$1.91RON 8.32
-1.05%
Eggs
$3.23RON 14.10
$3.61RON 15.75
-10.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.79RON 42.69
$8.62RON 37.56
13.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15RON 31.19
$6.09RON 26.53
17.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.97RON 52.2
$8.96RON 39.08
33.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.37
$1.25RON 5.46
-1.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 7.72
$1.71RON 7.47
3.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.07
$1.72RON 7.48
-5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37RON 10.34
$1.90RON 8.30
24.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.21
$1.02RON 4.45
-4.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.06
$1.10RON 4.81
-15.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.52
$0.95RON 4.16
9.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.78
$0.73RON 3.17
19.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51RON 28.40
$5.91RON 25.76
10.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79RON 33.97
$5.84RON 25.46
33.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.08
$0.91RON 3.97
28.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.53
$1.33RON 5.80
47.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.93
$0.56RON 2.42
19.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.34RON 102
$27.01RON 118
-13.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.36
$0.69RON 3.00
44.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82RON 3.57
$0.62RON 2.68
32.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.52RON 41.50
$7.57RON 32.99
25.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64RON 7.14
$1.57RON 6.85
4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRON 123.5K
$28.4KRON 123.9K
-0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRON 117.1K
$26.6KRON 115.8K
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158RON 688
$163RON 712
-3.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92RON 38.87
$8.24RON 35.93
8.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05RON 43.81
$8.61RON 37.54
16.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.60RON 190
$33.82RON 147
28.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.27RON 88.4
$38.10RON 166
-46.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93RON 34.56
$6.48RON 28.27
22.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490RON 2,136
$643RON 2,803
-23.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 45.8K
$5,442RON 23.7K
93.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7RON 308
$102RON 447
-31.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.62RON 177
$34.89RON 152
16.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1RON 371
$64.4RON 281
32.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.6RON 434
$97.3RON 424
2.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$719RON 3,135
$437RON 1,906
64.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$558RON 2,432
$342RON 1,493
62.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,274RON 5,554
$618RON 2,695
106.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$951RON 4,144
$535RON 2,335
77.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,661RON 20.3K
$1,668RON 7,274
179.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,361RON 14.7K
$1,301RON 5,673
158.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Galati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,415RON 6,171
$935RON 4,077
51.34%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Galati: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $719 in Cluj-Napoca and $437 in Galati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 51% 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 $45.00 in Galati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $197 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 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Galati?
Cluj-Napoca pays 51% 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: $719 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 16% 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 $490 in Cluj-Napoca versus $643 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 $1,136 in Galati versus $1,375 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 21% 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