๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,037 in Rรขศnov.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,111 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,576 in Rรขศnov.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,848 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,114 in Rรขศnov.
๐Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 32% more expensive than Rรขศnov, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 2% above, Rรขศnov is 23% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.58RONย 52.4
$8.57RONย 38.76
35.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.8RONย 261
$40.40RONย 183
42.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08RONย 36.53
$8.05RONย 36.40
0.37%
Cappuccino
$3.53RONย 15.99
$2.31RONย 10.46
52.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RONย 10.40
$1.33RONย 6.00
72.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13RONย 9.65
$1.15RONย 5.22
85.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28RONย 14.84
$2.16RONย 9.76
51.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RONย 18.18
$2.83RONย 12.80
42.05%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79RONย 8.11
$1.52RONย 6.88
17.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RONย 6.10
$1.17RONย 5.31
15.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89RONย 8.56
$1.57RONย 7.10
20.38%
Eggs
$3.26RONย 14.75
$3.02RONย 13.65
7.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.25RONย 46.36
$8.47RONย 38.33
21.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.06RONย 31.96
$6.98RONย 31.59
1.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06RONย 54.6
$11.85RONย 53.6
1.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.18RONย 5.36
$1.01RONย 4.57
16.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RONย 7.80
$1.36RONย 6.16
26.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63RONย 7.39
$1.52RONย 6.89
7.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42RONย 10.93
$1.95RONย 8.80
24.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RONย 4.30
$0.90RONย 4.07
5.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93RONย 4.23
$0.92RONย 4.15
1.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08RONย 4.89
$0.76RONย 3.42
42.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RONย 3.99
$0.80RONย 3.63
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56RONย 29.67
$6.04RONย 27.31
8.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76RONย 35.09
$7.50RONย 33.93
3.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16RONย 5.23
$1.07RONย 4.85
8.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RONย 8.86
$1.69RONย 7.63
15.98%
๐ Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RONย 3.02
$0.67RONย 3.05
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.65RONย 102
$19.81RONย 89.6
14.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00RONย 4.51
$0.71RONย 3.20
40.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86RONย 3.90
$0.61RONย 2.75
40.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.43RONย 42.67
$6.80RONย 30.75
38.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70RONย 7.71
$1.63RONย 7.36
4.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRONย 128.9K
$27.7KRONย 125.2K
3.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KRONย 120.8K
$27.6KRONย 124.7K
-3.17%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$156RONย 704
$168RONย 758
-7.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.13RONย 41.29
$8.27RONย 37.39
10.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.87RONย 44.65
$9.12RONย 41.24
8.22%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.65RONย 202
$41.59RONย 188
7.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.25RONย 91.6
$19.03RONย 86.1
6.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.27RONย 37.39
$5.90RONย 26.68
40.17%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481RONย 2,176
$445RONย 2,013
8.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KRONย 47.5K
$6,566RONย 29.7K
59.80%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.5RONย 314
$72.5RONย 328
-4.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.69RONย 184
$42.20RONย 191
-3.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.5RONย 382
$97.0RONย 439
-12.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9RONย 452
$79.1RONย 358
26.43%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707RONย 3,196
$392RONย 1,773
80.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564RONย 2,552
$286RONย 1,294
97.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,261RONย 5,706
$595RONย 2,693
111.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$930RONย 4,209
$441RONย 1,994
111.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,832RONย 21.9K
$1,938RONย 8,766
149.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,491RONย 15.8K
$1,395RONย 6,309
150.35%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Rรขศnov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,369RONย 6,194
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
7.7
-24.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 8, 2026
Last update for Rรขศnov: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $707 in Cluj-Napoca and $392 in Rรขศnov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $40.00 in Rรขศnov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $211 per month, with Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rรขศnov cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Rรขศnov is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% 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 $1,555 in Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov?
Rent for a central apartment: $707 in Cluj-Napoca versus $392 in Rรขศnov. 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 Rรขศnov runs roughly 14% 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 $445 in Rรขศnov. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Cluj-Napoca or Rรขศnov?
At $1,037 in Rรขศnov versus $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rรขศnov but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Rรขศnov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Rรขศnov more family-friendly?
For families, Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 32% 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