🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,136 in Galati versus $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,731 in Galati versus $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,327 in Galati versus $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Living in Galati costs roughly 17% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Galati is 15% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.70RON 50.9
$11.48RON 49.93
1.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.48RON 198
$57.9RON 252
-21.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.02RON 34.89
$8.25RON 35.90
-2.79%
Cappuccino
$2.65RON 11.53
$3.53RON 15.37
-24.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21RON 9.60
$2.33RON 10.13
-5.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84RON 8.02
$2.22RON 9.65
-17.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32RON 10.10
$3.19RON 13.89
-27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31RON 14.39
$3.90RON 16.94
-15.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34RON 5.84
$1.72RON 7.50
-22.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89RON 3.88
$1.31RON 5.69
-32.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91RON 8.30
$1.89RON 8.24
1.06%
Eggs
$3.61RON 15.72
$3.23RON 14.06
11.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.62RON 37.48
$9.79RON 42.59
-11.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.09RON 26.47
$7.15RON 31.11
-14.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.96RON 38.99
$11.97RON 52.1
-25.15%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25RON 5.45
$1.23RON 5.36
1.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71RON 7.45
$1.77RON 7.71
-3.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.46
$1.62RON 7.05
6.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90RON 8.28
$2.37RON 10.32
-19.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.44
$0.97RON 4.20
5.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10RON 4.79
$0.93RON 4.05
18.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95RON 4.15
$1.04RON 4.51
-8.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73RON 3.17
$0.87RON 3.78
-16.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91RON 25.70
$6.51RON 28.34
-9.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.84RON 25.41
$7.79RON 33.89
-25.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 3.97
$1.17RON 5.07
-22.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33RON 5.79
$1.96RON 8.51
-32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56RON 2.42
$0.67RON 2.92
-16.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.01RON 118
$23.34RON 102
15.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69RON 2.99
$1.00RON 4.35
-31.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62RON 2.68
$0.82RON 3.56
-24.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.57RON 32.91
$9.52RON 41.41
-20.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57RON 6.83
$1.64RON 7.13
-4.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRON 123.6K
$28.3KRON 123.3K
0.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KRON 115.5K
$26.9KRON 116.8K
-1.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$163RON 711
$158RON 686
3.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.24RON 35.85
$8.92RON 38.78
-7.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.61RON 37.46
$10.05RON 43.71
-14.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.82RON 147
$43.60RON 190
-22.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.10RON 166
$20.27RON 88.2
87.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.48RON 28.21
$7.93RON 34.48
-18.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$643RON 2,797
$490RON 2,131
31.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,442RON 23.7K
$10.5KRON 45.7K
-48.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102RON 446
$70.7RON 307
44.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89RON 152
$40.62RON 177
-14.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.4RON 280
$85.1RON 370
-24.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.3RON 423
$99.6RON 433
-2.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437RON 1,902
$719RON 3,128
-39.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342RON 1,489
$558RON 2,427
-38.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618RON 2,689
$1,274RON 5,541
-51.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535RON 2,329
$951RON 4,135
-43.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,668RON 7,258
$4,661RON 20.3K
-64.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,301RON 5,660
$3,361RON 14.6K
-61.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Galati
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$935RON 4,068
$1,415RON 6,157
-33.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.85
11.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Galati: April 26, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Galati and $719 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 51% 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: $45.00 in Galati vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $232 per month, with Galati 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
Galati vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Galati?
Galati is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Galati or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 51% less. 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 Galati and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Galati versus $719 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 Galati runs roughly 16% 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 $643 in Galati versus $490 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Galati or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,136 in Galati versus $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Galati but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Galati the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Galati or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Galati 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, Galati or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Galati and Cluj-Napoca 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 Galati gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.