Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cugir and Cluj-Napoca

For one person, living is cheaper in Cugir: $879 a month against $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cugir, Romania
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cugir
🇷🇴 Romania
$879
/mo nomad
Cluj-Napoca
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,423
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cugir and in Cluj-Napoca

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Cugir versus $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca.

  • Cugir $879
  • Cluj-Napoca $1,423

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Cugir versus $2,126 in Cluj-Napoca.

  • Cugir $1,300
  • Cluj-Napoca $2,126

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,721 in Cugir versus $2,830 in Cluj-Napoca.

  • Cugir $1,721
  • Cluj-Napoca $2,830

Living in Cugir costs roughly 38% less than in Cluj-Napoca, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cugir is 35% below, Cluj-Napoca is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85 RON 28.12
$12.58 RON 60.5
-53.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.39 RON 103
$54.8 RON 264
-60.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.55 RON 36.32
$9.59 RON 46.13
-21.27%
Cappuccino
$1.50 RON 7.22
$3.78 RON 18.15
-60.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 RON 6.20
$2.30 RON 11.08
-43.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 RON 5.65
$2.22 RON 10.68
-47.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 RON 7.28
$3.32 RON 15.95
-54.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 RON 10.23
$4.20 RON 20.18
-49.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 RON 5.53
$1.60 RON 7.71
-28.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 RON 5.90
$1.44 RON 6.93
-14.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 RON 8.42
$1.69 RON 8.14
3.55%
Eggs
$2.70 RON 13.00
$3.76 RON 18.05
-28.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.97 RON 33.51
$9.07 RON 43.59
-23.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.85 RON 23.32
$7.14 RON 34.31
-32.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 RON 50.5
$11.46 RON 55.1
-8.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 RON 7.78
$1.39 RON 6.66
16.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 RON 8.48
$1.58 RON 7.60
11.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 RON 7.91
$1.88 RON 9.05
-12.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 RON 6.77
$2.37 RON 11.38
-40.51%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 RON 3.77
$0.92 RON 4.43
-15.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.82 RON 3.93
$0.90 RON 4.32
-8.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 RON 5.73
$0.90 RON 4.35
32.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 RON 3.67
$1.01 RON 4.84
-24.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 RON 26.23
$6.42 RON 30.87
-14.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 RON 27.77
$7.41 RON 35.63
-22.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 RON 5.87
$1.25 RON 5.99
-2.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 RON 8.18
$1.73 RON 8.32
-1.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 RON 3.47
$0.76 RON 3.65
-5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.74 RON 105
$44.23 RON 213
-50.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 RON 2.62
$0.84 RON 4.02
-35.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 RON 2.61
$0.96 RON 4.63
-43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.32 RON 25.56
$8.27 RON 39.75
-35.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 RON 6.50
$1.94 RON 9.32
-30.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K RON 135.0K
$28.3K RON 136.2K
-0.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K RON 119.9K
$24.7K RON 118.9K
0.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 RON 595
$151 RON 725
-17.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.97 RON 38.33
$8.44 RON 40.56
-5.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.31 RON 35.13
$9.16 RON 44.05
-20.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.47 RON 185
$47.36 RON 228
-18.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.29 RON 97.5
$22.01 RON 106
-7.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.41 RON 26.01
$9.35 RON 44.97
-42.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 RON 746
$577 RON 2,774
-73.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,824 RON 18.4K
$9,450 RON 45.4K
-59.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.46 RON 151
$87.1 RON 419
-63.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.30 RON 39.89
$44.26 RON 213
-81.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 RON 336
$98.8 RON 475
-29.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1 RON 356
$107 RON 513
-30.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$379 RON 1,824
$668 RON 3,213
-43.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 RON 1,352
$536 RON 2,575
-47.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$585 RON 2,814
$1,227 RON 5,897
-52.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$451 RON 2,168
$807 RON 3,882
-44.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,831 RON 8,802
$4,568 RON 22.0K
-59.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,352 RON 6,501
$3,342 RON 16.1K
-59.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cugir
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$519 RON 2,494
$1,241 RON 5,964
-58.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.35
6.65
10.53%

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

Last update for Cugir: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cugir
$281
Cluj-Napoca
$536 90.4% $254
Groceries & Markets
Cugir
$190
Cluj-Napoca
$230 21.3% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cugir
$139
Cluj-Napoca
$168 21.1% $29
Eating Out
Cugir
$109
Cluj-Napoca
$218 99.6% $109
Clothing & Footwear
Cugir
$83
Cluj-Napoca
$152 83.4% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Cugir
$49
Cluj-Napoca
$66 34% $17
Getting Around
Cugir
$28
Cluj-Napoca
$53 89.6% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Cugir and $668 in Cluj-Napoca. 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: $21 in Cugir vs $55 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $230 per month, with Cugir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Cugir
🇷🇴 Cluj-Napoca
🕒 Local time
15:03 3:03 PM
15:03 3:03 PM
Same time as Cugir
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,780
324,576
💱 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
  • Cugir Cluj-Napoca 110 km
From you
  • Cugir
  • Cluj-Napoca

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
Cugir vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cugir cheaper than Cluj-Napoca?
Cugir is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and groceries. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cugir or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Cugir. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Cugir and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Cugir versus $668 in Cluj-Napoca. 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 Cugir 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 $155 in Cugir versus $577 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Cugir or in Cluj-Napoca?
At $879 in Cugir versus $1,423 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cugir but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Cugir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Cugir or in Cluj-Napoca?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cugir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% 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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