Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Cluj-Napoca Cost of Living Comparison Between Pecs and Cluj-Napoca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,222 in Pecs versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,821 in Pecs versus $2,123 in Cluj-Napoca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,419 in Pecs versus $2,860 in Cluj-Napoca.

Living in Pecs costs roughly 12% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pecs is 9% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.71 Ft 2,656
$11.53 RON 52.1
-24.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.47 Ft 13.0K
$58.1 RON 263
-26.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 Ft 2,665
$8.21 RON 37.10
6.46%
Cappuccino
$2.19 Ft 667
$3.37 RON 15.25
-35.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 Ft 338
$2.42 RON 10.93
-54.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 Ft 284
$2.19 RON 9.90
-57.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 Ft 488
$3.25 RON 14.70
-50.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 Ft 650
$3.90 RON 17.61
-45.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 Ft 339
$1.74 RON 7.85
-36.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 Ft 472
$1.33 RON 6.03
16.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 Ft 562
$1.84 RON 8.31
-
Eggs
$2.50 Ft 761
$3.24 RON 14.64
-22.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.42 Ft 2,873
$10.15 RON 45.88
-7.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 Ft 1,791
$6.89 RON 31.15
-14.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.53 Ft 4,432
$12.08 RON 54.6
20.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 Ft 617
$1.23 RON 5.57
64.23%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 Ft 619
$1.73 RON 7.81
17.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Ft 668
$1.55 RON 7.02
41.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.60 Ft 1,097
$2.33 RON 10.51
54.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 Ft 384
$1.02 RON 4.60
23.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 Ft 379
$0.97 RON 4.38
27.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 Ft 533
$1.04 RON 4.70
68.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Ft 165
$0.88 RON 3.98
-38.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30 Ft 2,227
$6.53 RON 29.52
11.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.80 Ft 1,464
$7.94 RON 35.87
-39.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 Ft 368
$1.13 RON 5.10
7.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 Ft 622
$2.05 RON 9.26
-0.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 Ft 444
$0.70 RON 3.18
108.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.15 Ft 7,364
$23.33 RON 105
3.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 Ft 961
$1.00 RON 4.52
215.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 Ft 338
$0.89 RON 4.02
24.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.89 Ft 6,980
$9.45 RON 42.70
142.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 Ft 543
$1.69 RON 7.63
5.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K Ft 8.3M
$28.4K RON 128.6K
-4.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Ft 9.7M
$27.1K RON 122.3K
17.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 Ft 49.6K
$161 RON 730
0.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.04 Ft 8,247
$9.19 RON 41.52
194.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.57 Ft 5,967
$9.66 RON 43.65
102.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.01 Ft 13.7K
$44.75 RON 202
0.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.00 Ft 6,708
$19.86 RON 89.8
10.78%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 Ft 2,477
$8.25 RON 37.30
-1.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$402 Ft 122.6K
$491 RON 2,220
-18.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,225 Ft 2.2M
$10.8K RON 49.0K
-33.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.6 Ft 27.6K
$70.9 RON 320
27.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.59 Ft 13.6K
$39.43 RON 178
13.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.5 Ft 28.8K
$84.2 RON 380
12.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 Ft 31.0K
$99.5 RON 450
2.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$497 Ft 151.4K
$692 RON 3,129
-28.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 Ft 112.9K
$550 RON 2,485
-32.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 Ft 206.0K
$1,244 RON 5,625
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$556 Ft 169.4K
$923 RON 4,174
-39.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,528 Ft 1.1M
$4,494 RON 20.3K
-21.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,005 Ft 916.5K
$3,328 RON 15.0K
-9.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,140 Ft 347.8K
$1,378 RON 6,231
-17.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
5.85
36.75%

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

Last update for Pecs: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $497 in Pecs and $692 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cluj-Napoca pays 21% 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: $42.00 in Pecs vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $232, with Cluj-Napoca cheaper for home cooking.

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
Pecs vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Pecs?
Pecs is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pecs or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 21% 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 Pecs and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $497 in Pecs 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 Pecs runs roughly 4% 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 $402 in Pecs 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 Pecs or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,222 in Pecs versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pecs but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Pecs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pecs or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Pecs 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, Pecs or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Pecs 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 Pecs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% 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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