😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,373 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,123 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,113 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,731 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,854 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,339 in Pascani.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 22% more expensive than in 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
$11.30RON 51.8
$12.10RON 55.5
-6.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6RON 260
$50.8RON 233
11.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.21RON 37.67
$7.85RON 36.00
4.59%
Cappuccino
$3.47RON 15.91
$3.47RON 15.92
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43RON 11.15
$1.92RON 8.80
26.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22RON 10.20
$2.09RON 9.60
6.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15RON 14.46
$3.27RON 15.00
-3.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86RON 17.72
$3.35RON 15.39
15.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80RON 8.24
$1.54RON 7.07
16.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30RON 5.96
$1.29RON 5.92
0.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.33
$1.76RON 8.08
3.41%
Eggs
$3.37RON 15.46
$3.33RON 15.27
1.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.00RON 45.89
$8.67RON 39.78
15.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.11RON 32.63
$7.14RON 32.74
-0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.81RON 54.2
$12.11RON 55.6
-2.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19RON 5.48
$1.15RON 5.27
3.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78RON 8.18
$1.72RON 7.91
3.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.42
$1.61RON 7.40
0.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37RON 10.87
$2.39RON 10.98
-0.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.67
$0.94RON 4.29
8.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98RON 4.52
$1.03RON 4.72
-4.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09RON 4.98
$0.95RON 4.35
14.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94RON 4.32
$0.85RON 3.89
10.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.43RON 29.49
$6.06RON 27.78
6.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79RON 35.75
$7.79RON 35.73
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.36
$1.14RON 5.21
2.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01RON 9.24
$1.68RON 7.69
19.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.25
$0.66RON 3.03
7.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.40RON 107
$19.47RON 89.3
20.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01RON 4.63
$0.71RON 3.27
42.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83RON 3.81
$0.82RON 3.74
1.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.57RON 43.91
$6.72RON 30.81
42.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66RON 7.60
$1.65RON 7.58
0.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRON 128.9K
$28.6KRON 131.0K
-1.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRON 119.6K
$27.7KRON 126.9K
-5.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161RON 739
$162RON 741
-0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89RON 40.78
$8.15RON 37.40
9.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.08RON 46.25
$8.97RON 41.13
12.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.69RON 200
$41.71RON 191
4.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.88RON 91.2
$19.48RON 89.4
2.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25RON 37.84
$11.14RON 51.1
-25.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$476RON 2,181
$451RON 2,071
5.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KRON 49.8K
$6,531RON 30.0K
66.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7RON 324
$66.2RON 304
6.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.96RON 188
$42.75RON 196
-4.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0RON 395
$96.2RON 441
-10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101RON 462
$97.5RON 447
3.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$710RON 3,256
$391RON 1,792
81.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549RON 2,519
$293RON 1,344
87.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,251RON 5,740
$579RON 2,656
116.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$928RON 4,258
$433RON 1,986
114.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,801RON 22.0K
$1,785RON 8,190
168.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,422RON 15.7K
$1,577RON 7,235
116.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,359RON 6,235
$761RON 3,491
78.59%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Pascani: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $710 in Cluj-Napoca and $391 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 79% 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 $51.0 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $225 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Pascani?
Average pay runs 79% 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: $710 in Cluj-Napoca versus $391 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 20% 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 $476 in Cluj-Napoca versus $451 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 $1,123 in Pascani versus $1,373 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 22% 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