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