Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Sighetu Marmatiei

For one person, living is cheaper in Sighetu Marmatiei: $958 a month against $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania
Cluj-Napoca
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,423
/mo nomad
Sighetu Marmatiei
🇷🇴 Romania
$958
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cluj-Napoca and in Sighetu Marmatiei

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cluj-Napoca and in Sighetu Marmatiei actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca versus $958 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

  • Cluj-Napoca $1,423
  • Sighetu Marmatiei $958

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,126 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,401 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

  • Cluj-Napoca $2,126
  • Sighetu Marmatiei $1,401

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,830 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,843 in Sighetu Marmatiei.

  • Cluj-Napoca $2,830
  • Sighetu Marmatiei $1,843

Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 48% more expensive than in Sighetu Marmatiei, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 5% above, Sighetu Marmatiei is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.58 RON 60.5
$8.62 RON 41.42
45.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 RON 263
$20.80 RON 100.0
163.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.59 RON 46.11
$7.31 RON 35.14
31.19%
Cappuccino
$3.78 RON 18.15
$2.68 RON 12.89
41.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 RON 11.07
$1.84 RON 8.86
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 RON 10.68
$1.77 RON 8.51
25.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 RON 15.94
$2.06 RON 9.89
61.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20 RON 20.17
$3.15 RON 15.12
33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 RON 7.70
$1.44 RON 6.92
11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 RON 6.93
$1.01 RON 4.87
42.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 RON 8.14
$1.20 RON 5.77
40.83%
Eggs
$3.76 RON 18.05
$2.83 RON 13.61
32.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.07 RON 43.57
$8.02 RON 38.54
13.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 RON 34.30
$6.34 RON 30.45
12.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.46 RON 55.1
$9.18 RON 44.10
24.84%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 RON 6.66
$1.12 RON 5.38
24.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 RON 7.60
$1.49 RON 7.16
6.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 RON 9.04
$1.49 RON 7.17
26.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 RON 11.38
$1.36 RON 6.56
74.26%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RON 4.43
$0.86 RON 4.16
6.98%
Onion (1kg)
$0.90 RON 4.32
$0.95 RON 4.57
-5.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 RON 4.34
$0.69 RON 3.32
30.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 RON 4.84
$0.84 RON 4.01
20.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.42 RON 30.86
$5.46 RON 26.23
17.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.41 RON 35.62
$5.77 RON 27.73
28.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 RON 5.98
$1.03 RON 4.95
21.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 RON 8.31
$1.76 RON 8.44
-1.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 RON 3.65
$0.76 RON 3.64
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.23 RON 213
$21.76 RON 105
103.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 RON 4.01
$0.72 RON 3.45
16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 RON 4.62
$0.77 RON 3.69
24.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.27 RON 39.74
$7.41 RON 35.63
11.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.94 RON 9.32
$1.73 RON 8.31
12.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K RON 136.1K
$29.0K RON 139.3K
-2.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.7K RON 118.9K
$25.5K RON 122.5K
-2.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 RON 725
$138 RON 663
9.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44 RON 40.55
$6.50 RON 31.22
29.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.16 RON 44.04
$7.73 RON 37.13
18.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.36 RON 228
$38.48 RON 185
23.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.01 RON 106
$20.29 RON 97.5
8.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35 RON 44.95
$4.31 RON 20.73
116.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 RON 2,774
$396 RON 1,904
45.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,450 RON 45.4K
$8,844 RON 42.5K
6.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.1 RON 419
$59.9 RON 288
45.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.26 RON 213
$37.56 RON 180
17.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 RON 475
$54.8 RON 263
80.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 RON 513
$63.4 RON 305
68.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$668 RON 3,212
$378 RON 1,818
76.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 RON 2,575
$290 RON 1,392
84.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 RON 5,895
$602 RON 2,893
103.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 RON 3,881
$441 RON 2,120
83.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,568 RON 22.0K
$1,865 RON 8,961
144.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,342 RON 16.1K
$1,333 RON 6,404
150.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cluj-Napoca
Sighetu Marmatiei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,241 RON 5,962
$522 RON 2,510
137.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.65
7.1
-6.34%

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

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sighetu Marmatiei: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cluj-Napoca
$536
Sighetu Marmatiei
$290 45.9% $246
Groceries & Markets
Cluj-Napoca
$230
Sighetu Marmatiei
$189 18% $41
Eating Out
Cluj-Napoca
$218
Sighetu Marmatiei
$154 29.3% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cluj-Napoca
$168
Sighetu Marmatiei
$152 9.7% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Cluj-Napoca
$152
Sighetu Marmatiei
$97 36% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Cluj-Napoca
$66
Sighetu Marmatiei
$47 28.7% $19
Getting Around
Cluj-Napoca
$53
Sighetu Marmatiei
$29 44.5% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $668 in Cluj-Napoca and $378 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cluj-Napoca pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $55 in Cluj-Napoca vs $21 in Sighetu Marmatiei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $189 per month, with Sighetu Marmatiei cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Cluj-Napoca
🇷🇴 Sighetu Marmatiei
🕒 Local time
14:02 2:02 PM
14:02 2:02 PM
Same time as Cluj-Napoca
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
324,576
37,640
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.81 RON (1 RON = 0.208 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cluj-Napoca Sighetu Marmatiei 130 km
From you
  • Cluj-Napoca
  • Sighetu Marmatiei

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sighetu Marmatiei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sighetu Marmatiei cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Sighetu Marmatiei is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and groceries. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cluj-Napoca or Sighetu Marmatiei?
Average pay in Cluj-Napoca is about 2.4 times higher, 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 Sighetu Marmatiei?
Rent for a central apartment: $668 in Cluj-Napoca versus $378 in Sighetu Marmatiei. 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 Sighetu Marmatiei runs roughly 51% 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 $577 in Cluj-Napoca versus $396 in Sighetu Marmatiei. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Cluj-Napoca or in Sighetu Marmatiei?
At $958 in Sighetu Marmatiei versus $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Sighetu Marmatiei but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Sighetu Marmatiei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Cluj-Napoca or in Sighetu Marmatiei?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Cluj-Napoca or Sighetu Marmatiei?
Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Sighetu Marmatiei 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 Sighetu Marmatiei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% 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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