Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Targu Frumos Cost of Living Comparison Between Cluj-Napoca and Targu Frumos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca versus $962 in Targu Frumos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,213 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,501 in Targu Frumos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,938 in Cluj-Napoca versus $2,041 in Targu Frumos.

Living in Cluj-Napoca is roughly 55% more expensive than in Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cluj-Napoca is 8% above, Targu Frumos is 30% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.48 RON 61.0

$8.69 RON 39.36

55.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.1 RON 259

$43.94 RON 199

30.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.07 RON 45.59

$8.87 RON 40.19

13.53%

Cappuccino

$3.92 RON 17.74

$2.36 RON 10.70

66.10%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 RON 11.21

$1.51 RON 6.83

63.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 RON 11.17

$1.24 RON 5.64

99.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 RON 15.23

$1.96 RON 8.87

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 RON 20.21

$2.39 RON 10.83

86.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 RON 7.87

$1.49 RON 6.75

16.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 RON 7.21

$1.17 RON 5.31

35.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 RON 8.41

$1.54 RON 6.96

20.78%

Eggs

$3.90 RON 17.67

$2.94 RON 13.33

32.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 RON 43.87

$8.23 RON 37.28

17.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 RON 35.26

$6.33 RON 28.66

22.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 RON 54.8

$10.94 RON 49.56

10.69%

Apples (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.73

$1.01 RON 4.57

47.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 RON 8.11

$1.35 RON 6.13

32.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 RON 8.90

$1.46 RON 6.60

34.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 RON 11.65

$1.90 RON 8.61

35.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 RON 4.53

$0.79 RON 3.60

26.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 RON 4.75

$0.52 RON 2.38

101.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 RON 4.69

$0.86 RON 3.91

19.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 RON 4.68

$0.79 RON 3.56

30.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 RON 30.60

$6.16 RON 27.91

9.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.54 RON 34.16

$7.52 RON 34.05

0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$1.08 RON 4.88

19.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 RON 8.42

$1.69 RON 7.67

10.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 RON 3.60

$0.76 RON 3.46

3.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 RON 147

$21.62 RON 97.9

49.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 RON 4.15

$0.88 RON 3.97

4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 RON 4.42

$0.85 RON 3.86

15.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.12 RON 41.30

$8.10 RON 36.69

12.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 RON 8.63

$1.80 RON 8.17

6.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.3K RON 132.8K

$30.0K RON 135.7K

-2.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K RON 118.4K

$26.8K RON 121.6K

-2.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$165 RON 745

$105 RON 477

56.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.94 RON 40.48

$9.78 RON 44.28

-8.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.16 RON 46.02

$8.44 RON 38.24

20.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.99 RON 226

$34.78 RON 158

43.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.35 RON 106

$21.76 RON 98.6

7.31%

Cinema Ticket

$9.93 RON 44.99

$6.60 RON 29.88

50.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$624 RON 2,827

$442 RON 2,000

41.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.0K RON 45.3K

$7,364 RON 33.3K

35.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$93.8 RON 425

$54.7 RON 248

71.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.38 RON 224

$31.32 RON 142

57.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 RON 468

$78.8 RON 357

31.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 RON 530

$82.4 RON 373

42.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$677 RON 3,065

$355 RON 1,610

90.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$557 RON 2,524

$341 RON 1,545

63.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 RON 5,413

$579 RON 2,621

106.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$844 RON 3,824

$443 RON 2,006

90.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,864 RON 22.0K

$2,060 RON 9,328

136.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,549 RON 16.1K

$1,604 RON 7,263

121.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,340 RON 6,070

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

7.47

-8.97%

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

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: September 8, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Cluj-Napoca and $355 in Targu Frumos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca vs $44.00 in Targu Frumos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $202 per month, with Targu Frumos 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 Targu Frumos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Frumos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,232 in Cluj-Napoca and $1,444 in Targu Frumos 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Cluj-Napoca versus $355 in Targu Frumos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Frumos runs roughly 50% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $624 in Cluj-Napoca versus $442 in Targu Frumos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $962 in Targu Frumos versus $1,488 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Targu Frumos but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Frumos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Targu Frumos 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.

Safety-wise, Cluj-Napoca and Targu Frumos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Targu Frumos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.