Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Iernut Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Iernut

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$11.41 RON 52.3
$8.46 RON 38.81
34.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8 RON 265
$39.82 RON 183
45.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.14 RON 37.32
$7.83 RON 35.89
3.96%
Cappuccino
$3.39 RON 15.53
$2.30 RON 10.57
47.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 RON 10.77
$1.33 RON 6.09
76.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 RON 9.66
$1.12 RON 5.13
88.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 RON 14.97
$2.27 RON 10.42
43.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 RON 18.45
$2.71 RON 12.43
48.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 RON 8.22
$1.50 RON 6.86
19.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 RON 6.18
$1.18 RON 5.39
14.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.86 RON 8.55
$1.63 RON 7.46
14.11%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.37
$2.94 RON 13.47
13.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 RON 44.43
$8.41 RON 38.57
15.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 RON 32.37
$7.11 RON 32.59
-0.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 RON 54.7
$11.93 RON 54.7
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.24 RON 5.71
$1.02 RON 4.67
21.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 RON 7.90
$1.35 RON 6.21
27.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 RON 7.51
$1.49 RON 6.82
10.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 RON 10.89
$1.92 RON 8.81
23.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.35
$0.94 RON 4.29
1.06%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 RON 4.25
$0.93 RON 4.25
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 RON 4.98
$0.80 RON 3.69
36.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 RON 4.12
$0.80 RON 3.66
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30 RON 28.91
$5.96 RON 27.31
5.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.65 RON 35.07
$7.70 RON 35.29
-0.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 RON 5.37
$1.07 RON 4.91
9.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 RON 9.32
$1.70 RON 7.80
19.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 RON 3.24
$0.72 RON 3.28
-1.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.37 RON 107
$19.66 RON 90.2
18.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 RON 4.34
$0.73 RON 3.33
30.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 RON 3.72
$0.74 RON 3.41
9.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.56 RON 43.82
$7.06 RON 32.38
35.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.63 RON 7.46
$1.58 RON 7.26
3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K RON 126.6K
$28.0K RON 128.5K
-1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K RON 124.2K
$27.4K RON 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)
$160 RON 733
$166 RON 763
-3.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.06 RON 41.56
$8.28 RON 37.99
9.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.14 RON 46.49
$9.26 RON 42.46
9.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.86 RON 206
$41.27 RON 189
8.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.93 RON 91.4
$19.44 RON 89.2
2.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93 RON 36.38
$5.91 RON 27.11
34.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$475 RON 2,178
$451 RON 2,067
5.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K RON 49.3K
$6,664 RON 30.6K
61.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0 RON 321
$66.2 RON 303
5.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45 RON 181
$32.47 RON 149
21.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 RON 396
$74.9 RON 343
15.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 RON 460
$79.8 RON 366
25.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$714 RON 3,275
$382 RON 1,754
86.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$559 RON 2,563
$295 RON 1,351
89.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,244 RON 5,704
$585 RON 2,684
112.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$943 RON 4,324
$435 RON 1,993
116.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,645 RON 21.3K
$1,762 RON 8,082
163.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,395 RON 15.6K
$1,593 RON 7,306
113.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,314 RON 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.

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