🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,406 in Pecs versus $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Pecs versus $2,234 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,925 in Pecs versus $2,972 in Cluj-Napoca.
🌍Living in Pecs costs roughly 6% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Pecs2% above, Cluj-Napoca9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.52Ft 3,895
$13.28RON 60.0
-5.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4Ft 18.2K
$57.0RON 257
2.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.70Ft 3,017
$10.13RON 45.74
-4.24%
Cappuccino
$2.57Ft 801
$3.92RON 17.69
-34.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36Ft 422
$2.54RON 11.47
-46.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33Ft 415
$2.39RON 10.79
-44.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79Ft 556
$3.24RON 14.63
-44.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50Ft 777
$4.36RON 19.71
-42.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28Ft 399
$1.74RON 7.85
-26.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.65Ft 513
$1.57RON 7.07
5.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60Ft 808
$1.90RON 8.60
36.84%
Eggs
$3.35Ft 1,044
$3.99RON 18.04
-16.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.76Ft 3,349
$9.70RON 43.81
10.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87Ft 2,139
$7.75RON 35.00
-11.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.56Ft 5,153
$12.36RON 55.8
33.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54Ft 791
$1.51RON 6.83
68.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.33Ft 724
$1.81RON 8.17
28.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67Ft 830
$2.01RON 9.10
32.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.15Ft 1,290
$2.63RON 11.89
57.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19Ft 370
$1.00RON 4.54
19.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41Ft 440
$1.00RON 4.53
41.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86Ft 579
$0.98RON 4.42
89.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57Ft 177
$1.07RON 4.82
-46.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.81Ft 2,741
$6.74RON 30.42
30.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.90Ft 1,525
$7.76RON 35.05
-36.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41Ft 440
$1.29RON 5.82
9.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64Ft 820
$1.80RON 8.13
46.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.55Ft 483
$0.78RON 3.53
98.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.05Ft 7,483
$31.80RON 144
-24.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.42Ft 1,063
$0.97RON 4.38
252.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50Ft 465
$1.01RON 4.57
48.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.71Ft 8,000
$9.00RON 40.67
185.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84Ft 572
$1.91RON 8.65
-3.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2KFt 9.7M
$30.2KRON 136.3K
3.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8KFt 12.1M
$26.4KRON 119.3K
46.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$174Ft 54.1K
$168RON 757
3.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33Ft 6,635
$8.78RON 39.67
142.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.72Ft 6,758
$10.41RON 47.00
108.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.79Ft 15.2K
$48.20RON 218
1.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.40Ft 6,037
$23.92RON 108
-18.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.95Ft 2,784
$10.15RON 45.84
-11.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$444Ft 138.0K
$613RON 2,770
-27.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,900Ft 2.5M
$10.1KRON 45.7K
-21.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106Ft 33.1K
$92.4RON 418
15.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8Ft 16.8K
$47.93RON 217
12.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101Ft 31.3K
$105RON 473
-3.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114Ft 35.5K
$112RON 508
1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645Ft 200.8K
$665RON 3,004
-2.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457Ft 142.1K
$548RON 2,474
-16.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007Ft 313.2K
$1,212RON 5,475
-16.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707Ft 219.8K
$858RON 3,877
-17.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,467Ft 1.1M
$4,765RON 21.5K
-27.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,909Ft 905.0K
$3,587RON 16.2K
-18.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pecs
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115Ft 346.9K
$1,365RON 6,165
-18.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
6.8
17.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pecs: September 1, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Pecs and $665 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 22% 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: $58.0 in Pecs vs $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $248 per month, with Cluj-Napoca 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 6% 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 22% 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: $645 in Pecs versus $665 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 32% 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 $444 in Pecs versus $613 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 $1,406 in Pecs versus $1,497 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 6% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.