😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,276 in Marijampole.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,234 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,932 in Marijampole.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,972 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,589 in Marijampole.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 17% more expensive than in Marijampole, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 9% above, Marijampole is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.28RON 60.0
$13.02€11.19
2.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0RON 257
$41.17€35.40
38.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.13RON 45.74
$6.89€5.93
47.02%
Cappuccino
$3.92RON 17.69
$2.38€2.05
64.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54RON 11.47
$1.40€1.21
81.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39RON 10.79
$1.19€1.02
100.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24RON 14.63
$4.08€3.51
-20.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36RON 19.71
$4.57€3.93
-4.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.85
$1.32€1.13
31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57RON 7.07
$1.52€1.30
3.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90RON 8.60
$1.86€1.60
2.15%
Eggs
$3.99RON 18.04
$2.81€2.42
41.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70RON 43.81
$10.50€9.03
-7.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75RON 35.00
$6.09€5.23
27.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.36RON 55.8
$10.23€8.80
20.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.83
$1.70€1.46
-11.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81RON 8.17
$1.49€1.28
21.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01RON 9.10
$1.77€1.52
13.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63RON 11.89
$3.16€2.72
-16.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.54
$0.80€0.69
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.53
$0.96€0.82
4.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RON 4.42
$1.55€1.33
-36.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07RON 4.82
$0.81€0.70
32.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.74RON 30.42
$5.30€4.56
27.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76RON 35.05
$8.49€7.29
-8.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29RON 5.82
$1.72€1.48
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80RON 8.13
$1.74€1.50
3.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78RON 3.53
$1.11€0.96
-29.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.80RON 144
$34.31€29.50
-7.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97RON 4.38
$4.69€4.03
-79.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01RON 4.57
$0.86€0.74
17.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.00RON 40.67
$14.00€12.04
-35.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RON 8.65
$1.65€1.42
15.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRON 136.3K
$28.3K€24.3K
6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KRON 119.3K
$29.1K€25.0K
-9.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$168RON 757
$215€185
-21.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78RON 39.67
$15.80€13.58
-44.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.41RON 47.00
$14.60€12.55
-28.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.20RON 218
$43.18€37.12
11.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.92RON 108
$23.28€20.01
2.75%
Cinema Ticket
$10.15RON 45.84
$7.96€6.85
27.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$613RON 2,770
$473€407
29.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KRON 45.7K
$9,588€8,243
5.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4RON 418
$57.6€49.54
60.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.93RON 217
$23.00€19.77
108.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105RON 473
$83.7€72.0
25.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112RON 508
$116€100
-3.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$665RON 3,004
$561€482
18.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548RON 2,474
$365€314
49.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,212RON 5,475
$879€756
37.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$858RON 3,877
$665€572
29.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,765RON 21.5K
$2,989€2,570
59.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,587RON 16.2K
$1,801€1,548
99.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Marijampole
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,365RON 6,165
$1,249€1,074
9.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
3.97
71.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: August 31, 2026
Last update for Marijampole: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $665 in Cluj-Napoca and $561 in Marijampole. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 9% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $41.00 in Marijampole for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $229 per month, with Marijampole 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 Marijampole: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marijampole cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Marijampole is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Marijampole?
Average pay runs 9% higher in Cluj-Napoca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cluj-Napoca and Marijampole?
Rent for a central apartment: $665 in Cluj-Napoca versus $561 in Marijampole. 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 Marijampole runs roughly 8% 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 $473 in Marijampole. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cluj-Napoca or in Marijampole?
At $1,276 in Marijampole versus $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Marijampole but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Marijampole the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Marijampole more family-friendly?
For families, Marijampole 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 Marijampole?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Marijampole 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 Marijampole gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% 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