😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,147 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,111 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,781 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,848 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,414 in Ramnicu Sarat.
😐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 20% more expensive than Ramnicu Sarat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 2% above, Ramnicu Sarat is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58RON 52.4
$14.05RON 63.6
-17.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8RON 261
$68.3RON 309
-15.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08RON 36.53
$8.20RON 37.08
-1.46%
Cappuccino
$3.53RON 15.99
$3.31RON 14.96
6.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RON 10.40
$1.93RON 8.73
19.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RON 9.65
$1.35RON 6.09
57.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28RON 14.84
$2.33RON 10.54
40.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RON 18.18
$3.25RON 14.72
23.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79RON 8.11
$1.72RON 7.78
4.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RON 6.10
$1.28RON 5.79
5.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.56
$1.92RON 8.68
-1.56%
Eggs
$3.26RON 14.75
$3.20RON 14.50
1.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.25RON 46.36
$9.54RON 43.17
7.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06RON 31.96
$6.65RON 30.10
6.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06RON 54.6
$11.41RON 51.6
5.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RON 5.36
$1.43RON 6.46
-17.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.80
$1.72RON 7.80
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63RON 7.39
$1.73RON 7.84
-5.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42RON 10.93
$2.44RON 11.02
-0.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.30
$1.01RON 4.56
-5.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.23
$1.11RON 5.01
-16.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RON 4.89
$1.03RON 4.64
4.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RON 3.99
$0.85RON 3.85
3.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56RON 29.67
$6.48RON 29.31
1.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76RON 35.09
$6.69RON 30.25
15.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16RON 5.23
$1.14RON 5.14
1.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.86
$1.85RON 8.38
5.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.02
$0.67RON 3.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.65RON 102
$20.13RON 91.1
12.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RON 4.51
$0.95RON 4.30
5.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RON 3.90
$0.74RON 3.36
16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.43RON 42.67
$7.90RON 35.72
19.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RON 7.71
$1.62RON 7.34
4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 128.9K
$28.5KRON 128.7K
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRON 120.8K
$27.2KRON 123.1K
-1.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156RON 704
$189RON 857
-17.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13RON 41.29
$7.92RON 35.84
15.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.87RON 44.65
$9.02RON 40.79
9.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.65RON 202
$41.74RON 189
6.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25RON 91.6
$19.29RON 87.3
4.98%
Cinema Ticket
$8.27RON 37.39
$8.11RON 36.70
1.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481RON 2,176
$557RON 2,519
-13.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRON 47.5K
$8,328RON 37.7K
26.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5RON 314
$69.5RON 314
0.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69RON 184
$64.6RON 292
-37.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5RON 382
$75.9RON 343
11.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9RON 452
$81.7RON 369
22.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707RON 3,196
$387RON 1,751
82.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564RON 2,552
$288RON 1,304
95.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,261RON 5,706
$586RON 2,650
115.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$930RON 4,209
$443RON 2,005
109.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,832RON 21.9K
$1,937RON 8,764
149.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,491RON 15.8K
$1,387RON 6,272
151.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Ramnicu Sarat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,369RON 6,194
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ramnicu Sarat: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $707 in Cluj-Napoca and $387 in Ramnicu Sarat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $68.0 in Ramnicu Sarat. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 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 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,061 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,721 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: $707 in Cluj-Napoca versus $387 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 13% 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 $481 in Cluj-Napoca versus $557 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 $1,147 in Ramnicu Sarat versus $1,374 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 20% 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