🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,181 in Pecs versus $1,410 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,772 in Pecs versus $2,148 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,362 in Pecs versus $2,886 in Cluj-Napoca.
🌍Living in Pecs costs roughly 16% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pecs is 12% below, Cluj-Napoca is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.65Ft 2,721
$11.41RON 52.1
-24.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.40Ft 13.3K
$57.8RON 264
-26.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.51Ft 2,678
$8.14RON 37.15
4.55%
Cappuccino
$2.22Ft 698
$3.39RON 15.46
-34.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15Ft 362
$2.35RON 10.72
-51.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94Ft 296
$2.11RON 9.61
-55.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.61Ft 507
$3.26RON 14.90
-50.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14Ft 672
$4.02RON 18.36
-46.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11Ft 350
$1.79RON 8.18
-37.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48Ft 467
$1.35RON 6.16
9.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89Ft 594
$1.86RON 8.51
1.61%
Eggs
$2.43Ft 764
$3.35RON 15.29
-27.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42Ft 2,962
$9.69RON 44.22
-2.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.96Ft 1,876
$7.06RON 32.22
-15.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30Ft 4,497
$11.93RON 54.5
19.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96Ft 616
$1.24RON 5.68
58.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12Ft 666
$1.72RON 7.86
23.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10Ft 662
$1.64RON 7.47
28.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48Ft 1,095
$2.37RON 10.84
46.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26Ft 397
$0.95RON 4.33
32.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23Ft 386
$0.93RON 4.23
32.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.78Ft 559
$1.09RON 4.96
63.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Ft 170
$0.90RON 4.10
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00Ft 2,203
$6.30RON 28.78
11.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.70Ft 1,479
$7.65RON 34.91
-38.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21Ft 381
$1.17RON 5.35
3.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12Ft 666
$2.03RON 9.27
4.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46Ft 460
$0.71RON 3.22
105.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.16Ft 7,599
$23.37RON 107
3.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08Ft 969
$0.95RON 4.32
224.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12Ft 352
$0.81RON 3.70
38.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.99Ft 7,233
$9.56RON 43.62
140.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68Ft 528
$1.63RON 7.43
3.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1KFt 8.5M
$27.6KRON 126.0K
-1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KFt 9.8M
$27.1KRON 123.7K
14.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167Ft 52.6K
$160RON 730
4.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.76Ft 8,733
$9.06RON 41.37
206.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.64Ft 6,179
$10.14RON 46.28
93.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.87Ft 13.8K
$44.86RON 205
-2.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.77Ft 6,849
$19.93RON 91.0
9.23%
Cinema Ticket
$7.89Ft 2,483
$7.93RON 36.21
-0.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$409Ft 128.7K
$475RON 2,167
-13.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,172Ft 2.3M
$10.8KRON 49.1K
-33.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.3Ft 29.0K
$70.0RON 320
31.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.00Ft 13.8K
$39.45RON 180
11.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.8Ft 29.8K
$86.4RON 395
9.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101Ft 31.8K
$100RON 458
0.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$495Ft 155.6K
$714RON 3,260
-30.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367Ft 115.5K
$559RON 2,551
-34.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$695Ft 218.7K
$1,244RON 5,677
-44.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$559Ft 175.7K
$943RON 4,304
-40.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,487Ft 1.1M
$4,645RON 21.2K
-24.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,939Ft 924.5K
$3,395RON 15.5K
-13.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082Ft 340.4K
$1,314RON 5,998
-17.65%
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: July 14, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Pecs and $714 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $232 per month, with Pecs 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
Pecs vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Pecs?
Pecs is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 19% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pecs or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Cluj-Napoca. 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: $495 in Pecs versus $714 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 3% 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 $409 in Pecs versus $475 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 living in Pecs or in Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,181 in Pecs versus $1,410 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 19% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.