😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,140 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,124 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,763 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,887 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,385 in Ramnicu Sarat.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 19% more expensive than in Ramnicu Sarat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 2% above, Ramnicu Sarat is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38RON 51.7
$14.00RON 63.6
-18.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6RON 262
$69.0RON 314
-16.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94RON 36.09
$8.29RON 37.70
-4.22%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 16.06
$3.30RON 14.99
6.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37RON 10.79
$1.89RON 8.59
25.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12RON 9.65
$1.32RON 5.99
60.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13RON 14.23
$2.24RON 10.17
39.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RON 18.27
$3.19RON 14.50
26.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77RON 8.05
$1.71RON 7.76
3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31RON 5.94
$1.24RON 5.63
5.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81RON 8.25
$1.91RON 8.70
-5.24%
Eggs
$3.34RON 15.17
$3.14RON 14.30
6.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.83RON 44.70
$9.80RON 44.55
0.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27RON 33.06
$6.65RON 30.25
9.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.00RON 54.5
$11.68RON 53.1
2.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.59
$1.41RON 6.40
-12.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.05
$1.80RON 8.16
-1.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.09
$1.72RON 7.80
-9.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36RON 10.74
$2.42RON 11.00
-2.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.29
$1.05RON 4.77
-10.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.41
$1.15RON 5.22
-15.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09RON 4.96
$1.03RON 4.70
5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92RON 4.19
$0.91RON 4.13
1.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44RON 29.27
$6.27RON 28.53
2.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.54RON 34.27
$6.37RON 28.98
18.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.31
$1.09RON 4.95
7.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.91
$1.77RON 8.06
10.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.04
$0.67RON 3.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.24RON 106
$20.09RON 91.4
15.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99RON 4.49
$0.97RON 4.39
2.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82RON 3.73
$0.75RON 3.40
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.11RON 41.43
$8.14RON 37.02
11.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.66
$1.64RON 7.47
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 129.3K
$28.5KRON 129.4K
-0.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KRON 122.9K
$27.9KRON 126.8K
-3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158RON 720
$188RON 856
-15.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.72RON 39.66
$7.99RON 36.34
9.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.91RON 45.08
$9.01RON 40.96
9.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.33RON 197
$41.95RON 191
3.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.21RON 91.9
$19.46RON 88.5
3.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.86RON 35.75
$8.12RON 36.91
-3.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$492RON 2,239
$556RON 2,528
-11.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 47.7K
$8,245RON 37.5K
27.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0RON 318
$70.4RON 320
-0.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.01RON 186
$66.3RON 302
-38.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2RON 383
$75.2RON 342
12.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101RON 460
$80.1RON 364
26.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$712RON 3,236
$381RON 1,733
86.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548RON 2,491
$292RON 1,329
87.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,267RON 5,762
$577RON 2,622
119.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$940RON 4,275
$432RON 1,965
117.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,857RON 22.1K
$1,939RON 8,815
150.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,404RON 15.5K
$1,299RON 5,908
161.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,325RON 6,024
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
6.78
-13.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ramnicu Sarat: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $712 in Cluj-Napoca and $381 in Ramnicu Sarat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $69.0 in Ramnicu Sarat. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $226, with Ramnicu Sarat cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ramnicu Sarat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ramnicu Sarat cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Ramnicu Sarat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,041 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,710 in Ramnicu Sarat to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cluj-Napoca and Ramnicu Sarat?
Rent for a central apartment: $712 in Cluj-Napoca versus $381 in Ramnicu Sarat. 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 Ramnicu Sarat 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 $492 in Cluj-Napoca versus $556 in Ramnicu Sarat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cluj-Napoca or in Ramnicu Sarat?
At $1,140 in Ramnicu Sarat versus $1,361 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ramnicu Sarat but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Ramnicu Sarat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Ramnicu Sarat more family-friendly?
For families, Ramnicu Sarat 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 Ramnicu Sarat?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Ramnicu Sarat 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 Ramnicu Sarat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% 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