😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,072 in Lehliu Gara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,213 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,616 in Lehliu Gara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,938 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,161 in Lehliu Gara.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 39% more expensive than in Lehliu Gara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 8% above, Lehliu Gara is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.48RON 61.0
$11.23RON 50.8
20.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1RON 259
$43.62RON 198
30.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.07RON 45.59
$7.91RON 35.85
27.31%
Cappuccino
$3.92RON 17.74
$2.60RON 11.78
50.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47RON 11.21
$2.23RON 10.09
10.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47RON 11.17
$1.99RON 9.00
24.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36RON 15.23
$2.16RON 9.76
55.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46RON 20.21
$3.30RON 14.97
35.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.87
$1.26RON 5.69
38.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59RON 7.21
$0.74RON 3.37
114.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86RON 8.41
$1.87RON 8.49
-0.53%
Eggs
$3.90RON 17.67
$3.62RON 16.38
7.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69RON 43.87
$8.17RON 37.01
18.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.78RON 35.26
$6.08RON 27.53
27.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11RON 54.8
$8.88RON 40.20
36.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49RON 6.73
$1.34RON 6.07
11.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79RON 8.11
$1.56RON 7.05
14.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96RON 8.90
$1.58RON 7.15
24.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57RON 11.65
$1.91RON 8.64
34.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.53
$0.94RON 4.26
6.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05RON 4.75
$1.07RON 4.84
-1.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03RON 4.69
$0.91RON 4.11
13.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03RON 4.68
$0.78RON 3.51
32.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76RON 30.60
$5.93RON 26.87
14.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54RON 34.16
$5.47RON 24.78
37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.83
$1.02RON 4.64
26.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86RON 8.42
$1.24RON 5.63
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79RON 3.60
$0.83RON 3.74
-4.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.36RON 147
$22.56RON 102
43.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92RON 4.15
$0.69RON 3.14
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98RON 4.42
$0.73RON 3.31
34.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.12RON 41.30
$7.19RON 32.57
26.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RON 8.63
$1.82RON 8.26
4.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KRON 132.8K
$29.2KRON 132.2K
0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 118.4K
$25.7KRON 116.2K
1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165RON 745
$160RON 724
2.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94RON 40.48
$8.19RON 37.08
9.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.16RON 46.02
$8.38RON 37.94
21.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.99RON 226
$37.42RON 169
33.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.35RON 106
$22.47RON 102
3.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.93RON 44.99
$6.68RON 30.24
48.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$624RON 2,827
$625RON 2,830
-0.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KRON 45.3K
$5,195RON 23.5K
92.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.8RON 425
$99.6RON 451
-5.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.38RON 224
$34.26RON 155
44.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103RON 468
$63.3RON 286
63.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117RON 530
$87.2RON 395
34.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$677RON 3,065
$435RON 1,972
55.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$557RON 2,524
$320RON 1,451
73.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,195RON 5,413
$643RON 2,911
85.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$844RON 3,824
$537RON 2,432
57.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,864RON 22.0K
$1,674RON 7,579
190.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,549RON 16.1K
$1,472RON 6,667
141.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Lehliu Gara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,340RON 6,070
-
-
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: September 8, 2026
Last update for Lehliu Gara: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Cluj-Napoca and $435 in Lehliu Gara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $44.00 in Lehliu Gara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $192 per month, with Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lehliu Gara cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Lehliu Gara 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 $2,232 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,608 in Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Cluj-Napoca versus $435 in Lehliu Gara. 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 Lehliu Gara runs roughly 43% 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 $624 in Cluj-Napoca versus $625 in Lehliu Gara. 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 Lehliu Gara?
At $1,072 in Lehliu Gara versus $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lehliu Gara but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Lehliu Gara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Lehliu Gara more family-friendly?
For families, Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Lehliu Gara 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 Lehliu Gara 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