😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,501 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,100 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,224 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,667 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,946 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,235 in Pascani.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 37% more expensive than in Pascani, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 10% above, Pascani is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94RON 59.3
$8.91RON 40.84
45.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1RON 257
$44.89RON 206
25.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.60RON 43.98
$7.68RON 35.16
25.00%
Cappuccino
$3.89RON 17.81
$2.24RON 10.25
73.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51RON 11.52
$1.73RON 7.94
45.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47RON 11.31
$1.09RON 5.01
126.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31RON 15.19
$2.25RON 10.33
47.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50RON 20.62
$2.62RON 12.01
71.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.72
$1.31RON 6.00
29.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53RON 7.00
$1.10RON 5.02
39.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91RON 8.75
$1.81RON 8.30
5.52%
Eggs
$3.87RON 17.74
$3.61RON 16.52
7.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87RON 45.19
$9.45RON 43.29
4.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.54RON 34.56
$7.35RON 33.67
2.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94RON 54.7
$13.27RON 60.8
-10.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.93
$1.55RON 7.12
-2.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.13
$1.63RON 7.47
8.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.84
$1.67RON 7.63
15.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64RON 12.11
$2.79RON 12.78
-5.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.28
$0.85RON 3.91
10.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.56
$0.94RON 4.32
6.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00RON 4.59
$0.94RON 4.31
6.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01RON 4.64
$0.81RON 3.73
24.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50RON 29.78
$6.41RON 29.35
1.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62RON 34.89
$7.82RON 35.83
-2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33RON 6.11
$1.32RON 6.04
0.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78RON 8.14
$1.91RON 8.73
-6.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80RON 3.67
$0.74RON 3.39
8.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.77RON 146
$22.96RON 105
38.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96RON 4.40
$0.67RON 3.09
43.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01RON 4.65
$0.70RON 3.22
44.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80RON 40.32
$6.93RON 31.74
26.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RON 8.74
$1.53RON 7.00
24.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KRON 137.3K
$29.4KRON 134.5K
2.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 120.5K
$27.8KRON 127.5K
-5.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164RON 753
$190RON 870
-13.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04RON 41.43
$6.76RON 30.96
33.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.32RON 47.28
$9.66RON 44.23
6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.47RON 222
$39.35RON 180
23.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56RON 108
$21.28RON 97.5
10.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.86RON 45.15
$10.05RON 46.04
-1.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618RON 2,833
$457RON 2,094
35.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KRON 47.1K
$7,133RON 32.7K
44.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0RON 426
$53.7RON 246
73.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.70RON 219
$37.16RON 170
28.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103RON 472
$77.8RON 356
32.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112RON 515
$93.0RON 426
20.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$647RON 2,962
$408RON 1,871
58.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542RON 2,483
$304RON 1,393
78.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180RON 5,407
$639RON 2,929
84.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$847RON 3,882
$472RON 2,164
79.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,823RON 22.1K
$1,901RON 8,710
153.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,511RON 16.1K
$1,412RON 6,469
148.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,333RON 6,108
$775RON 3,551
72.03%
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 14, 2026
Last update for Pascani: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $647 in Cluj-Napoca and $408 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: $56.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $45.00 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $233 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Pascani?
Average pay runs 72% 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 Pascani?
Rent for a central apartment: $647 in Cluj-Napoca versus $408 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 38% 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 $618 in Cluj-Napoca versus $457 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 living in Cluj-Napoca or in Pascani?
At $1,100 in Pascani versus $1,501 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 37% 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