Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Sfantu Gheorghe Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Sfantu Gheorghe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,373 in Cluj-Napoca versus $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,113 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,388 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,854 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,880 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 53% more expensive than in Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 3% above, Sfantu Gheorghe is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.30 RON 51.8
$8.82 RON 40.45
28.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.6 RON 260
$40.49 RON 186
39.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.21 RON 37.65
$9.25 RON 42.41
-11.24%
Cappuccino
$3.47 RON 15.91
$2.10 RON 9.63
65.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 RON 11.14
$1.26 RON 5.78
92.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RON 10.20
$1.10 RON 5.05
101.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 RON 14.45
$2.24 RON 10.27
40.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86 RON 17.71
$2.68 RON 12.30
44.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 RON 8.23
$1.54 RON 7.08
16.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 RON 5.96
$1.22 RON 5.59
6.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 RON 8.32
$1.35 RON 6.17
34.81%
Eggs
$3.37 RON 15.45
$2.96 RON 13.59
13.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.00 RON 45.87
$8.57 RON 39.29
16.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.11 RON 32.61
$4.04 RON 18.52
75.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.81 RON 54.2
$12.67 RON 58.1
-6.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.19 RON 5.48
$0.99 RON 4.54
20.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 RON 8.18
$1.38 RON 6.32
28.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.42
$1.26 RON 5.76
28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 RON 10.87
$1.92 RON 8.81
23.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 RON 4.66
$0.72 RON 3.31
41.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 RON 4.51
$0.87 RON 4.01
12.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 RON 4.98
$0.80 RON 3.68
36.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RON 4.31
$0.66 RON 3.01
42.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.43 RON 29.47
$5.55 RON 25.44
15.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.79 RON 35.73
$8.20 RON 37.62
-5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 RON 5.36
$1.07 RON 4.91
9.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RON 9.24
$1.12 RON 5.13
79.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 RON 3.25
$0.72 RON 3.31
-1.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.40 RON 107
$19.93 RON 91.4
17.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 RON 4.63
$0.96 RON 4.40
5.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 RON 3.81
$0.69 RON 3.16
20.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.57 RON 43.89
$7.32 RON 33.57
30.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.66 RON 7.60
$1.60 RON 7.36
3.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K RON 128.8K
$28.0K RON 128.2K
0.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K RON 119.5K
$27.8K RON 127.3K
-6.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 RON 739
$169 RON 775
-4.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 RON 40.76
$8.67 RON 39.74
2.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.08 RON 46.22
$9.68 RON 44.39
4.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.69 RON 200
$42.14 RON 193
3.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.88 RON 91.1
$19.52 RON 89.5
1.84%
Cinema Ticket
$8.25 RON 37.82
$3.40 RON 15.59
142.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 RON 2,180
$429 RON 1,965
10.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K RON 49.8K
$6,965 RON 31.9K
55.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7 RON 324
$34.73 RON 159
103.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.96 RON 188
$18.61 RON 85.3
120.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 RON 394
$27.49 RON 126
212.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 RON 462
$69.4 RON 318
45.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$710 RON 3,255
$315 RON 1,444
125.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$549 RON 2,518
$234 RON 1,073
134.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,251 RON 5,737
$575 RON 2,638
117.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$928 RON 4,256
$435 RON 1,993
113.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,801 RON 22.0K
$1,938 RON 8,885
147.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,422 RON 15.7K
$1,421 RON 6,515
140.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,359 RON 6,232
$694 RON 3,183
95.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.85
6.75
-13.33%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: July 20, 2026

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $710 in Cluj-Napoca and $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cluj-Napoca pays 96% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $196 per month, with Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfantu Gheorghe cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Sfantu Gheorghe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Sfantu Gheorghe?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Cluj-Napoca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cluj-Napoca and Sfantu Gheorghe?
Rent for a central apartment: $710 in Cluj-Napoca versus $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 Sfantu Gheorghe runs roughly 17% 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 $476 in Cluj-Napoca versus $429 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Cluj-Napoca or in Sfantu Gheorghe?
At $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,373 in Cluj-Napoca, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfantu Gheorghe but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Sfantu Gheorghe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cluj-Napoca or Sfantu Gheorghe more family-friendly?
For families, Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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