😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca versus $963 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,234 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,481 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,972 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,999 in Iernut.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 56% more expensive than in Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 9% above, Iernut is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.28RON 59.9
$9.09RON 41.02
46.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0RON 257
$45.26RON 204
25.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13RON 45.72
$7.75RON 34.99
30.71%
Cappuccino
$3.92RON 17.68
$2.32RON 10.48
68.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RON 11.46
$1.56RON 7.04
62.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39RON 10.79
$1.31RON 5.89
82.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24RON 14.62
$2.27RON 10.27
42.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36RON 19.71
$2.41RON 10.90
80.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.85
$1.45RON 6.54
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57RON 7.07
$1.19RON 5.37
31.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90RON 8.59
$1.49RON 6.72
27.52%
Eggs
$3.99RON 18.03
$3.12RON 14.08
27.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70RON 43.79
$8.43RON 38.06
15.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75RON 34.98
$6.12RON 27.61
26.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.36RON 55.8
$10.84RON 48.94
14.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.83
$1.05RON 4.73
43.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81RON 8.16
$1.33RON 6.02
36.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01RON 9.09
$1.48RON 6.69
35.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63RON 11.88
$1.98RON 8.96
32.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.54
$0.76RON 3.42
31.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.53
$0.54RON 2.42
85.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RON 4.42
$0.87RON 3.94
12.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07RON 4.82
$0.76RON 3.43
40.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.74RON 30.41
$6.25RON 28.23
7.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76RON 35.04
$6.78RON 30.60
14.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.81
$1.09RON 4.90
18.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80RON 8.13
$1.64RON 7.40
9.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78RON 3.53
$0.76RON 3.41
2.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.80RON 144
$22.58RON 102
40.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97RON 4.38
$0.66RON 2.98
46.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01RON 4.57
$0.67RON 3.00
50.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.00RON 40.65
$6.78RON 30.61
32.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RON 8.64
$1.84RON 8.33
3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRON 136.3K
$29.8KRON 134.5K
1.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KRON 119.2K
$27.6KRON 124.5K
-4.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168RON 756
$106RON 481
57.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78RON 39.66
$8.69RON 39.25
1.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.41RON 46.98
$8.47RON 38.22
22.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.20RON 218
$40.39RON 182
19.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.92RON 108
$21.25RON 95.9
12.56%
Cinema Ticket
$10.15RON 45.82
$6.76RON 30.53
50.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$613RON 2,769
$453RON 2,045
35.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KRON 45.6K
$7,385RON 33.3K
36.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4RON 417
$52.2RON 236
77.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.93RON 216
$31.99RON 144
49.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105RON 473
$79.4RON 359
31.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112RON 508
$81.5RON 368
37.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665RON 3,002
$410RON 1,851
62.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548RON 2,473
$306RON 1,382
78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,212RON 5,473
$634RON 2,863
91.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$858RON 3,876
$467RON 2,108
83.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,765RON 21.5K
$1,983RON 8,951
140.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,587RON 16.2K
$1,400RON 6,321
156.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,365RON 6,163
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
7.2
-5.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: August 31, 2026
Last update for Iernut: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $665 in Cluj-Napoca and $410 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $45.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $200 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 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,246 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,444 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: $665 in Cluj-Napoca versus $410 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 41% 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 $613 in Cluj-Napoca versus $453 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 $963 in Iernut versus $1,497 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 56% 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