😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,116 in Giurgiu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,718 in Giurgiu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,887 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,319 in Giurgiu.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 22% more expensive than in Giurgiu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 2% above, Giurgiu is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38RON 51.7
$12.06RON 54.8
-5.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6RON 262
$49.98RON 227
15.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94RON 36.09
$7.93RON 36.03
0.13%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 16.06
$3.46RON 15.71
2.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37RON 10.79
$1.94RON 8.82
22.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12RON 9.65
$2.07RON 9.39
2.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13RON 14.23
$3.28RON 14.91
-4.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RON 18.27
$3.46RON 15.73
16.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77RON 8.05
$1.48RON 6.72
19.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31RON 5.94
$1.33RON 6.05
-1.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81RON 8.25
$1.83RON 8.30
-1.09%
Eggs
$3.34RON 15.17
$3.39RON 15.41
-1.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.83RON 44.70
$8.62RON 39.18
14.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27RON 33.06
$7.15RON 32.51
1.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.00RON 54.5
$11.92RON 54.2
0.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.59
$1.17RON 5.34
5.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.05
$1.72RON 7.82
2.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.09
$1.55RON 7.05
0.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36RON 10.74
$2.47RON 11.25
-4.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.29
$0.95RON 4.32
-1.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.41
$1.07RON 4.85
-9.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09RON 4.96
$0.89RON 4.05
22.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 4.19
$0.84RON 3.80
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44RON 29.27
$5.75RON 26.14
12.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54RON 34.27
$7.52RON 34.19
0.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.31
$1.15RON 5.21
1.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.91
$1.65RON 7.52
18.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.04
$0.71RON 3.22
-5.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.24RON 106
$19.81RON 90.1
17.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99RON 4.49
$0.73RON 3.30
35.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82RON 3.73
$0.69RON 3.12
18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.11RON 41.43
$6.70RON 30.48
35.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.66
$1.59RON 7.23
6.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 129.3K
$28.4KRON 129.1K
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KRON 122.9K
$27.6KRON 125.6K
-2.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158RON 720
$164RON 747
-3.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.72RON 39.66
$7.95RON 36.14
9.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.91RON 45.08
$8.80RON 40.00
12.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.33RON 197
$41.95RON 191
3.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.21RON 91.9
$19.55RON 88.9
3.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86RON 35.75
$10.84RON 49.27
-27.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$492RON 2,239
$444RON 2,016
11.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 47.7K
$6,483RON 29.5K
61.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0RON 318
$66.7RON 303
4.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.01RON 186
$43.39RON 197
-5.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2RON 383
$96.3RON 438
-12.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101RON 460
$99.7RON 453
1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$712RON 3,236
$386RON 1,754
84.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548RON 2,491
$287RON 1,304
91.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,267RON 5,762
$582RON 2,644
117.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940RON 4,275
$445RON 2,025
111.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,857RON 22.1K
$1,829RON 8,315
165.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,404RON 15.5K
$1,226RON 5,573
177.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Giurgiu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,325RON 6,024
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
7.7
-24.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: July 25, 2026
Last update for Giurgiu: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $712 in Cluj-Napoca and $386 in Giurgiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $50.0 in Giurgiu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $224 per month, with Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Giurgiu cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Giurgiu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,041 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,674 in Giurgiu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cluj-Napoca and Giurgiu?
Rent for a central apartment: $712 in Cluj-Napoca versus $386 in Giurgiu. 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 Giurgiu 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 $492 in Cluj-Napoca versus $444 in Giurgiu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cluj-Napoca or in Giurgiu?
At $1,116 in Giurgiu versus $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Giurgiu but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Giurgiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Giurgiu more family-friendly?
For families, Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% 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