😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,384 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,122 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,700 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,800 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,278 in Pascani.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 23% more expensive than Pascani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 3% above, Pascani is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62RON 50.4
$12.08RON 52.4
-3.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.4RON 245
$50.9RON 221
10.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91RON 34.31
$7.82RON 33.95
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.52RON 15.29
$3.56RON 15.43
-1.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40RON 10.42
$1.98RON 8.58
21.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20RON 9.54
$2.10RON 9.11
4.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14RON 13.63
$3.28RON 14.22
-4.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94RON 17.10
$3.39RON 14.71
16.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80RON 7.79
$1.49RON 6.46
20.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29RON 5.62
$1.34RON 5.83
-3.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.14
$1.76RON 7.62
6.82%
Eggs
$3.37RON 14.63
$3.28RON 14.26
2.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21RON 44.33
$8.53RON 37.03
19.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27RON 31.57
$7.05RON 30.59
3.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.10RON 52.5
$11.94RON 51.8
1.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24RON 5.40
$1.19RON 5.17
4.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79RON 7.77
$1.71RON 7.41
4.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.11
$1.61RON 6.98
1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40RON 10.42
$2.43RON 10.53
-1.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.09
$1.03RON 4.46
-8.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91RON 3.96
$1.08RON 4.69
-15.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03RON 4.48
$0.87RON 3.79
18.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95RON 4.12
$0.79RON 3.42
20.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55RON 28.43
$5.91RON 25.65
10.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.75RON 33.65
$7.06RON 30.63
9.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12RON 4.86
$1.11RON 4.80
0.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05RON 8.91
$1.68RON 7.29
22.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.07
$0.70RON 3.04
1.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.87RON 99.2
$19.70RON 85.5
16.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99RON 4.29
$0.76RON 3.31
30.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84RON 3.63
$0.82RON 3.55
2.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.08RON 39.39
$7.10RON 30.79
27.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68RON 7.29
$1.65RON 7.18
1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KRON 123.9K
$27.8KRON 120.7K
2.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KRON 115.2K
$28.1KRON 122.1K
-5.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158RON 685
$163RON 709
-3.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.15RON 39.69
$7.89RON 34.25
15.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.13RON 43.97
$8.84RON 38.38
14.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.86RON 190
$40.78RON 177
7.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.09RON 87.2
$18.93RON 82.2
6.13%
Cinema Ticket
$8.10RON 35.17
$11.11RON 48.24
-27.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$479RON 2,080
$445RON 1,932
7.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KRON 46.2K
$6,473RON 28.1K
64.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8RON 299
$68.1RON 295
1.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64RON 172
$42.07RON 183
-5.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.6RON 363
$95.4RON 414
-12.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6RON 428
$97.5RON 423
1.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$704RON 3,056
$392RON 1,703
79.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$565RON 2,451
$294RON 1,275
92.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,283RON 5,569
$581RON 2,523
120.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$930RON 4,037
$431RON 1,869
115.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,717RON 20.5K
$1,730RON 7,508
172.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,404RON 14.8K
$1,528RON 6,630
122.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,404RON 6,093
$815RON 3,536
72.33%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Pascani: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $704 in Cluj-Napoca and $392 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 72% 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: $56 in Cluj-Napoca vs $51 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $221 per month, with Pascani 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 Pascani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pascani cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Pascani is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Pascani?
Cluj-Napoca pays 72% more on average, 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 Pascani?
Rent for a central apartment: $704 in Cluj-Napoca versus $392 in Pascani. 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 Pascani runs roughly 16% 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 $479 in Cluj-Napoca versus $445 in Pascani. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Cluj-Napoca or Pascani?
At $1,122 in Pascani versus $1,384 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pascani but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Pascani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Pascani more family-friendly?
For families, Pascani 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 Pascani?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Pascani 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 Pascani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% 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