😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,410 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,012 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,148 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,519 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,886 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,026 in Iernut.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 39% more expensive than in Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 6% above, Iernut is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.41RON 52.3
$8.46RON 38.81
34.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8RON 265
$39.82RON 183
45.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.14RON 37.32
$7.83RON 35.89
3.96%
Cappuccino
$3.39RON 15.53
$2.30RON 10.57
47.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35RON 10.77
$1.33RON 6.09
76.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11RON 9.66
$1.12RON 5.13
88.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26RON 14.97
$2.27RON 10.42
43.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RON 18.45
$2.71RON 12.43
48.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79RON 8.22
$1.50RON 6.86
19.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RON 6.18
$1.18RON 5.39
14.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86RON 8.55
$1.63RON 7.46
14.11%
Eggs
$3.35RON 15.37
$2.94RON 13.47
13.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69RON 44.43
$8.41RON 38.57
15.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06RON 32.37
$7.11RON 32.59
-0.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93RON 54.7
$11.93RON 54.7
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.24RON 5.71
$1.02RON 4.67
21.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.90
$1.35RON 6.21
27.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.51
$1.49RON 6.82
10.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37RON 10.89
$1.92RON 8.81
23.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.35
$0.94RON 4.29
1.06%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.25
$0.93RON 4.25
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09RON 4.98
$0.80RON 3.69
36.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90RON 4.12
$0.80RON 3.66
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30RON 28.91
$5.96RON 27.31
5.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.65RON 35.07
$7.70RON 35.29
-0.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.37
$1.07RON 4.91
9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03RON 9.32
$1.70RON 7.80
19.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.24
$0.72RON 3.28
-1.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.37RON 107
$19.66RON 90.2
18.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95RON 4.34
$0.73RON 3.33
30.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.81RON 3.72
$0.74RON 3.41
9.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.56RON 43.82
$7.06RON 32.38
35.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.46
$1.58RON 7.26
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KRON 126.6K
$28.0KRON 128.5K
-1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRON 124.2K
$27.4KRON 125.8K
-1.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160RON 733
$166RON 763
-3.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.06RON 41.56
$8.28RON 37.99
9.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.14RON 46.49
$9.26RON 42.46
9.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.86RON 206
$41.27RON 189
8.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93RON 91.4
$19.44RON 89.2
2.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93RON 36.38
$5.91RON 27.11
34.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$475RON 2,178
$451RON 2,067
5.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KRON 49.3K
$6,664RON 30.6K
61.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0RON 321
$66.2RON 303
5.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45RON 181
$32.47RON 149
21.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4RON 396
$74.9RON 343
15.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100RON 460
$79.8RON 366
25.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$714RON 3,275
$382RON 1,754
86.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$559RON 2,563
$295RON 1,351
89.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,244RON 5,704
$585RON 2,684
112.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943RON 4,324
$435RON 1,993
116.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,645RON 21.3K
$1,762RON 8,082
163.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,395RON 15.6K
$1,593RON 7,306
113.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,314RON 6,026
-
-
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 12, 2026
Last update for Iernut: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $714 in Cluj-Napoca and $382 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $40.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $212 per month, with Iernut 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 Iernut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iernut cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,115 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,519 in Iernut 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 Iernut?
Rent for a central apartment: $714 in Cluj-Napoca versus $382 in Iernut. 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 Iernut runs roughly 19% 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 $475 in Cluj-Napoca versus $451 in Iernut. 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 Iernut?
At $1,012 in Iernut versus $1,410 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Iernut more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut 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 Iernut?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Iernut 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 Iernut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% 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