πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,033 in Iernut versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,531 in Iernut versus $2,123 in Cluj-Napoca.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,029 in Iernut versus $2,860 in Cluj-Napoca.
πLiving in Iernut costs roughly 26% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Iernut is 23% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.37RONΒ 37.84
$11.53RONΒ 52.1
-27.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.27RONΒ 182
$58.1RONΒ 263
-30.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24RONΒ 37.23
$8.21RONΒ 37.10
0.37%
Cappuccino
$2.30RONΒ 10.41
$3.37RONΒ 15.25
-31.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33RONΒ 5.99
$2.42RONΒ 10.93
-45.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14RONΒ 5.15
$2.19RONΒ 9.90
-47.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31RONΒ 10.45
$3.25RONΒ 14.70
-28.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81RONΒ 12.70
$3.90RONΒ 17.61
-27.95%
π Groceries & Markets
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55RONΒ 7.01
$1.74RONΒ 7.85
-10.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22RONΒ 5.54
$1.33RONΒ 6.03
-8.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60RONΒ 7.22
$1.84RONΒ 8.31
-13.04%
Eggs
$3.06RONΒ 13.84
$3.24RONΒ 14.64
-5.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.46RONΒ 38.25
$10.15RONΒ 45.88
-16.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.01RONΒ 31.70
$6.89RONΒ 31.15
1.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.12RONΒ 54.8
$12.08RONΒ 54.6
0.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03RONΒ 4.65
$1.23RONΒ 5.57
-16.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31RONΒ 5.94
$1.73RONΒ 7.81
-24.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RONΒ 6.89
$1.55RONΒ 7.02
-1.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.94RONΒ 8.76
$2.33RONΒ 10.51
-16.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88RONΒ 3.97
$1.02RONΒ 4.60
-13.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86RONΒ 3.90
$0.97RONΒ 4.38
-11.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79RONΒ 3.56
$1.04RONΒ 4.70
-24.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80RONΒ 3.62
$0.88RONΒ 3.98
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.81RONΒ 26.25
$6.53RONΒ 29.52
-11.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.87RONΒ 35.57
$7.94RONΒ 35.87
-0.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09RONΒ 4.92
$1.13RONΒ 5.10
-3.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68RONΒ 7.60
$2.05RONΒ 9.26
-18.05%
π Getting Around
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70RONΒ 3.17
$0.70RONΒ 3.18
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.48RONΒ 88.1
$23.33RONΒ 105
-16.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77RONΒ 3.48
$1.00RONΒ 4.52
-23.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75RONΒ 3.40
$0.89RONΒ 4.02
-15.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.74RONΒ 30.47
$9.45RONΒ 42.70
-28.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61RONΒ 7.27
$1.69RONΒ 7.63
-4.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6KRONΒ 124.8K
$28.4KRONΒ 128.6K
-2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KRONΒ 127.9K
$27.1KRONΒ 122.3K
4.58%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167RONΒ 753
$161RONΒ 730
3.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.31RONΒ 37.57
$9.19RONΒ 41.52
-9.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.18RONΒ 41.50
$9.66RONΒ 43.65
-4.97%
π Sport & Entertainment
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.12RONΒ 190
$44.75RONΒ 202
-5.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.50RONΒ 88.1
$19.86RONΒ 89.8
-1.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.86RONΒ 26.50
$8.25RONΒ 37.30
-28.97%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449RONΒ 2,028
$491RONΒ 2,220
-8.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,609RONΒ 29.9K
$10.8KRONΒ 49.0K
-38.99%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.9RONΒ 298
$70.9RONΒ 320
-7.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.16RONΒ 145
$39.43RONΒ 178
-18.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.6RONΒ 332
$84.2RONΒ 380
-12.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.8RONΒ 370
$99.5RONΒ 450
-17.80%
π Accommodation & Living
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384RONΒ 1,735
$692RONΒ 3,129
-44.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$293RONΒ 1,326
$550RONΒ 2,485
-46.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580RONΒ 2,624
$1,244RONΒ 5,625
-53.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435RONΒ 1,965
$923RONΒ 4,174
-52.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,694RONΒ 7,657
$4,494RONΒ 20.3K
-62.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,579RONΒ 7,138
$3,328RONΒ 15.0K
-52.56%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Iernut
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,378RONΒ 6,231
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
5.85
31.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iernut: June 1, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Iernut and $692 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $40.00 in Iernut vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $232 per month, with Iernut 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
Iernut vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Iernut?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,549 in Iernut and $2,080 in Cluj-Napoca 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.
What is the rent difference between Iernut and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Iernut versus $692 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 Iernut runs roughly 20% 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 $449 in Iernut versus $491 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Iernut or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,033 in Iernut versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Iernut or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut 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, Iernut or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Iernut 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 Iernut gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.