😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,132 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,123 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,719 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,860 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,306 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
$11.53RON 52.5
$12.34RON 56.2
-6.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1RON 265
$50.2RON 228
15.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21RON 37.36
$7.91RON 35.99
3.79%
Cappuccino
$3.37RON 15.35
$3.60RON 16.39
-6.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42RON 11.01
$1.97RON 8.97
22.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19RON 9.97
$2.01RON 9.14
8.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25RON 14.81
$3.29RON 14.96
-1.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90RON 17.74
$3.44RON 15.64
13.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.91
$1.54RON 7.03
12.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33RON 6.07
$1.35RON 6.14
-1.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84RON 8.37
$1.85RON 8.41
-0.54%
Eggs
$3.24RON 14.74
$3.28RON 14.92
-1.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15RON 46.20
$8.81RON 40.10
15.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.89RON 31.38
$6.92RON 31.51
-0.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.08RON 55.0
$12.08RON 55.0
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.61
$1.13RON 5.15
8.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73RON 7.87
$1.64RON 7.45
5.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55RON 7.07
$1.60RON 7.30
-3.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33RON 10.59
$2.51RON 11.43
-7.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.63
$0.96RON 4.37
6.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.41
$1.07RON 4.86
-9.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.73
$0.89RON 4.07
16.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 4.01
$0.85RON 3.86
3.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53RON 29.73
$6.02RON 27.40
8.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94RON 36.13
$8.85RON 40.28
-10.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13RON 5.13
$1.10RON 5.00
2.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05RON 9.33
$1.66RON 7.57
23.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70RON 3.20
$0.71RON 3.24
-1.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.33RON 106
$19.72RON 89.8
18.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.56
$0.77RON 3.50
29.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89RON 4.05
$0.82RON 3.72
8.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.45RON 43.00
$6.86RON 31.21
37.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.69
$1.65RON 7.51
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 129.5K
$28.5KRON 129.9K
-0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRON 123.2K
$27.5KRON 125.2K
-1.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161RON 735
$166RON 755
-2.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.19RON 41.82
$7.97RON 36.30
15.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.66RON 43.95
$9.16RON 41.70
5.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.75RON 204
$41.10RON 187
8.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.86RON 90.4
$19.23RON 87.6
3.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25RON 37.56
$11.01RON 50.1
-25.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$491RON 2,236
$450RON 2,047
9.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KRON 49.3K
$6,445RON 29.3K
68.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9RON 323
$65.8RON 299
7.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43RON 180
$42.54RON 194
-7.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2RON 383
$98.1RON 446
-14.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.5RON 453
$96.9RON 441
2.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$692RON 3,151
$384RON 1,748
80.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$550RON 2,503
$293RON 1,334
87.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,244RON 5,665
$587RON 2,673
111.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$923RON 4,203
$438RON 1,993
110.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,494RON 20.5K
$2,025RON 9,217
121.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,328RON 15.2K
$1,454RON 6,620
128.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,378RON 6,275
$788RON 3,589
74.83%
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 Pascani: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $692 in Cluj-Napoca and $384 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 75% 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: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $50.0 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $226 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 75% 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: $692 in Cluj-Napoca versus $384 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 18% 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 $450 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 $1,132 in Pascani versus $1,387 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