😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,033 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,123 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,531 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,860 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,029 in Iernut.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 34% more expensive than Iernut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 3% above, Iernut is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53RON 52.1
$8.37RON 37.84
37.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1RON 263
$40.27RON 182
44.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21RON 37.10
$8.24RON 37.23
-0.36%
Cappuccino
$3.37RON 15.25
$2.30RON 10.41
46.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42RON 10.93
$1.33RON 5.99
81.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 9.90
$1.14RON 5.15
92.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25RON 14.70
$2.31RON 10.45
40.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90RON 17.61
$2.81RON 12.70
38.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.85
$1.55RON 7.01
12.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33RON 6.03
$1.22RON 5.54
9.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84RON 8.31
$1.60RON 7.22
15.00%
Eggs
$3.24RON 14.64
$3.06RON 13.84
5.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15RON 45.88
$8.46RON 38.25
19.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.89RON 31.15
$7.01RON 31.70
-1.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.08RON 54.6
$12.12RON 54.8
-0.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.57
$1.03RON 4.65
19.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73RON 7.81
$1.31RON 5.94
32.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55RON 7.02
$1.52RON 6.89
1.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33RON 10.51
$1.94RON 8.76
20.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.60
$0.88RON 3.97
15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.38
$0.86RON 3.90
12.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.70
$0.79RON 3.56
31.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 3.98
$0.80RON 3.62
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53RON 29.52
$5.81RON 26.25
12.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94RON 35.87
$7.87RON 35.57
0.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13RON 5.10
$1.09RON 4.92
3.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05RON 9.26
$1.68RON 7.60
22.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70RON 3.18
$0.70RON 3.17
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.33RON 105
$19.48RON 88.1
19.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.52
$0.77RON 3.48
29.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89RON 4.02
$0.75RON 3.40
18.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45RON 42.70
$6.74RON 30.47
40.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.63
$1.61RON 7.27
4.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 128.6K
$27.6KRON 124.8K
3.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRON 122.3K
$28.3KRON 127.9K
-4.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161RON 730
$167RON 753
-3.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.19RON 41.52
$8.31RON 37.57
10.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.66RON 43.65
$9.18RON 41.50
5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.75RON 202
$42.12RON 190
6.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.86RON 89.8
$19.50RON 88.1
1.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25RON 37.30
$5.86RON 26.50
40.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$491RON 2,220
$449RON 2,028
9.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KRON 49.0K
$6,609RON 29.9K
63.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9RON 320
$65.9RON 298
7.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43RON 178
$32.16RON 145
22.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2RON 380
$73.6RON 332
14.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5RON 450
$81.8RON 370
21.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692RON 3,129
$384RON 1,735
80.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$550RON 2,485
$293RON 1,326
87.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,244RON 5,625
$580RON 2,624
114.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$923RON 4,174
$435RON 1,965
112.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,494RON 20.3K
$1,694RON 7,657
165.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,328RON 15.0K
$1,579RON 7,138
110.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,378RON 6,231
-
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Iernut: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Cluj-Napoca and $384 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 $214 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 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,080 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,549 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: $692 in Cluj-Napoca versus $384 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 20% 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 $491 in Cluj-Napoca versus $449 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 Cluj-Napoca or Iernut?
At $1,033 in Iernut versus $1,387 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 34% 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