😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,163 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,819 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,475 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 18% more expensive than Ramnicu Sarat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 3% above, Ramnicu Sarat is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.48RON 50.1
$13.72RON 59.8
-16.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9RON 253
$70.2RON 306
-17.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.25RON 35.98
$8.26RON 35.99
-0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 15.40
$3.41RON 14.85
3.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33RON 10.16
$1.96RON 8.53
18.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22RON 9.67
$1.31RON 5.69
69.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.19RON 13.92
$2.33RON 10.15
36.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90RON 16.98
$3.19RON 13.93
22.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.52
$1.71RON 7.44
0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31RON 5.70
$1.24RON 5.41
5.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.26
$1.86RON 8.09
1.61%
Eggs
$3.23RON 14.10
$3.20RON 13.95
0.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.79RON 42.69
$9.88RON 43.08
-0.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15RON 31.19
$6.73RON 29.34
6.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.97RON 52.2
$11.68RON 50.9
2.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23RON 5.37
$1.40RON 6.11
-12.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RON 7.72
$1.74RON 7.57
1.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.07
$1.72RON 7.52
-5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37RON 10.34
$2.42RON 10.53
-2.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97RON 4.21
$1.05RON 4.56
-7.62%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.06
$1.11RON 4.83
-16.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04RON 4.52
$1.00RON 4.36
4.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.78
$0.86RON 3.76
1.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51RON 28.40
$6.58RON 28.71
-1.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79RON 33.97
$7.09RON 30.90
9.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17RON 5.08
$1.15RON 5.00
1.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.53
$1.84RON 8.03
6.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 2.93
$0.70RON 3.06
-4.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.34RON 102
$19.47RON 84.9
19.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.36
$0.90RON 3.91
11.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82RON 3.57
$0.75RON 3.27
9.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.52RON 41.50
$8.27RON 36.05
15.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64RON 7.14
$1.69RON 7.39
-2.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRON 123.5K
$28.5KRON 124.3K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRON 117.1K
$28.0KRON 122.0K
-4.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$158RON 688
$183RON 798
-13.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92RON 38.87
$7.69RON 33.54
15.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05RON 43.81
$9.20RON 40.12
9.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.60RON 190
$42.17RON 184
3.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.27RON 88.4
$19.54RON 85.2
3.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93RON 34.56
$8.22RON 35.83
-3.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490RON 2,136
$551RON 2,403
-11.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 45.8K
$8,429RON 36.7K
24.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7RON 308
$69.9RON 305
1.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.62RON 177
$64.0RON 279
-36.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1RON 371
$76.3RON 333
11.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.6RON 434
$79.2RON 345
25.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$719RON 3,135
$384RON 1,675
87.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$558RON 2,432
$295RON 1,285
89.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,274RON 5,554
$598RON 2,608
112.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$951RON 4,144
$433RON 1,888
119.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,661RON 20.3K
$1,837RON 8,008
153.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,361RON 14.7K
$1,341RON 5,846
150.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,415RON 6,171
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ramnicu Sarat: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $719 in Cluj-Napoca and $384 in Ramnicu Sarat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $70.0 in Ramnicu Sarat. Groceries flip the comparison at $232 vs $228, 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 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,063 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,744 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: $719 in Cluj-Napoca versus $384 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 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 $490 in Cluj-Napoca versus $551 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 Cluj-Napoca or Ramnicu Sarat?
At $1,163 in Ramnicu Sarat versus $1,375 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 18% 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