😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,501 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,110 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,224 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,770 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,946 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,431 in Ramnicu Sarat.
🌍Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 35% more expensive than in Ramnicu Sarat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 10% above, Ramnicu Sarat is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.94RON 59.3
$13.36RON 61.2
-3.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1RON 257
$66.3RON 304
-15.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.60RON 43.98
$7.66RON 35.11
25.33%
Cappuccino
$3.89RON 17.81
$3.45RON 15.82
12.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51RON 11.52
$1.81RON 8.29
38.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47RON 11.31
$1.31RON 6.01
88.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31RON 15.19
$2.26RON 10.35
46.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50RON 20.62
$3.34RON 15.32
34.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69RON 7.72
$1.71RON 7.83
-1.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53RON 7.00
$1.31RON 5.99
16.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91RON 8.75
$1.73RON 7.91
10.40%
Eggs
$3.87RON 17.74
$3.18RON 14.55
21.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87RON 45.19
$8.16RON 37.36
20.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.54RON 34.56
$5.97RON 27.33
26.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94RON 54.7
$9.47RON 43.38
26.08%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51RON 6.93
$1.37RON 6.28
10.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 8.13
$1.68RON 7.68
5.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.84
$1.65RON 7.54
16.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64RON 12.11
$2.78RON 12.75
-5.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94RON 4.28
$1.01RON 4.62
-6.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00RON 4.56
$1.00RON 4.58
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00RON 4.59
$1.03RON 4.73
-2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01RON 4.64
$0.85RON 3.89
18.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.50RON 29.78
$6.67RON 30.57
-2.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62RON 34.89
$6.57RON 30.08
15.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33RON 6.11
$1.11RON 5.11
19.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78RON 8.14
$1.84RON 8.45
-3.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80RON 3.67
$0.74RON 3.38
8.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.77RON 146
$22.40RON 103
41.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96RON 4.40
$0.86RON 3.93
11.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01RON 4.65
$0.85RON 3.90
18.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.80RON 40.32
$7.92RON 36.28
11.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91RON 8.74
$1.93RON 8.82
-1.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KRON 137.3K
$29.7KRON 135.9K
1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRON 120.5K
$26.1KRON 119.7K
0.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$164RON 753
$178RON 815
-7.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.04RON 41.43
$7.83RON 35.85
15.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.32RON 47.28
$8.53RON 39.08
20.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.47RON 222
$40.74RON 187
18.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.56RON 108
$21.18RON 97.0
11.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.86RON 45.15
$7.21RON 33.02
36.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$618RON 2,833
$592RON 2,713
4.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3KRON 47.1K
$8,173RON 37.4K
25.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0RON 426
$68.6RON 314
35.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.70RON 219
$47.90RON 219
-0.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103RON 472
$92.4RON 423
11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112RON 515
$92.2RON 422
21.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$647RON 2,962
$410RON 1,879
57.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542RON 2,483
$300RON 1,372
80.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180RON 5,407
$636RON 2,914
85.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$847RON 3,882
$480RON 2,198
76.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,823RON 22.1K
$1,920RON 8,794
151.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,511RON 16.1K
$1,429RON 6,548
145.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,333RON 6,108
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.8
6.99
-2.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ramnicu Sarat: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $647 in Cluj-Napoca and $410 in Ramnicu Sarat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $56.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $66.0 in Ramnicu Sarat. Groceries flip the comparison at $244 vs $212, 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,252 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,664 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: $647 in Cluj-Napoca versus $410 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 42% 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 $592 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 $1,110 in Ramnicu Sarat versus $1,501 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 35% 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