πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,069 in Port Louis versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,712 in Port Louis versus $2,123 in Cluj-Napoca.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,356 in Port Louis versus $2,860 in Cluj-Napoca.
πLiving in Port Louis costs roughly 23% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Port Louis is 20% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.59MURΒ 311
$11.53RONΒ 52.1
-42.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.79MURΒ 2,116
$58.1RONΒ 263
-22.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MURΒ 338
$8.21RONΒ 37.10
-12.79%
Cappuccino
$2.56MURΒ 121
$3.37RONΒ 15.25
-24.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00MURΒ 47.36
$2.42RONΒ 10.93
-58.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MURΒ 26.38
$2.19RONΒ 9.90
-74.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$3.25RONΒ 14.70
-30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MURΒ 153
$3.90RONΒ 17.61
-16.92%
π Groceries & Markets
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63MURΒ 76.9
$1.74RONΒ 7.85
-6.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65MURΒ 30.62
$1.33RONΒ 6.03
-51.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32MURΒ 62.4
$1.84RONΒ 8.31
-28.26%
Eggs
$2.22MURΒ 105
$3.24RONΒ 14.64
-31.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.98MURΒ 566
$10.15RONΒ 45.88
18.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.06MURΒ 286
$6.89RONΒ 31.15
-12.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.85MURΒ 607
$12.08RONΒ 54.6
6.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03MURΒ 96.0
$1.23RONΒ 5.57
65.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00MURΒ 94.3
$1.73RONΒ 7.81
15.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44MURΒ 68.2
$1.55RONΒ 7.02
-7.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66MURΒ 126
$2.33RONΒ 10.51
14.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02MURΒ 48.28
$1.02RONΒ 4.60
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.01MURΒ 47.69
$0.97RONΒ 4.38
4.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81MURΒ 38.11
$1.04RONΒ 4.70
-22.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80MURΒ 37.85
$0.88RONΒ 3.98
-9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68MURΒ 316
$6.53RONΒ 29.52
2.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.63MURΒ 408
$7.94RONΒ 35.87
8.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80MURΒ 85.2
$1.13RONΒ 5.10
59.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25MURΒ 106
$2.05RONΒ 9.26
9.76%
π Getting Around
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03MURΒ 48.62
$0.70RONΒ 3.18
47.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.00MURΒ 1,040
$23.33RONΒ 105
-5.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.37MURΒ 207
$1.00RONΒ 4.52
337.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74MURΒ 130
$0.89RONΒ 4.02
207.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.46MURΒ 920
$9.45RONΒ 42.70
105.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44MURΒ 68.1
$1.69RONΒ 7.63
-14.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KMURΒ 1.7M
$28.4KRONΒ 128.6K
28.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KMURΒ 1.4M
$27.1KRONΒ 122.3K
7.25%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.79MURΒ 2,305
$161RONΒ 730
-69.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.55MURΒ 876
$9.19RONΒ 41.52
101.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MURΒ 1,567
$9.66RONΒ 43.65
243.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.33MURΒ 1,149
$44.75RONΒ 202
-45.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.09MURΒ 193
$19.86RONΒ 89.8
-79.41%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92MURΒ 280
$8.25RONΒ 37.30
-28.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152MURΒ 7,202
$491RONΒ 2,220
-68.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,933MURΒ 185.8K
$10.8KRONΒ 49.0K
-63.70%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3MURΒ 4,080
$70.9RONΒ 320
21.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$80.4MURΒ 3,797
$39.43RONΒ 178
103.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132MURΒ 6,226
$84.2RONΒ 380
56.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4MURΒ 4,553
$99.5RONΒ 450
-3.15%
π Accommodation & Living
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463MURΒ 21.9K
$692RONΒ 3,129
-33.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349MURΒ 16.5K
$550RONΒ 2,485
-36.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$781MURΒ 36.9K
$1,244RONΒ 5,625
-37.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614MURΒ 29.0K
$923RONΒ 4,174
-33.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,106MURΒ 194.0K
$4,494RONΒ 20.3K
-8.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,078MURΒ 50.9K
$3,328RONΒ 15.0K
-67.61%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Port Louis
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$677MURΒ 32.0K
$1,378RONΒ 6,231
-50.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5.85
14.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port Louis: June 2, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Port Louis and $692 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Cluj-Napoca pays 103% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $45.00 in Port Louis vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $232 per month, with Port Louis 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
Port Louis vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Port Louis?
Port Louis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Port Louis or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 103% 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 Port Louis and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $463 in Port Louis 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 Port Louis runs roughly 6% 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 $152 in Port Louis versus $491 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Port Louis or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,069 in Port Louis versus $1,387 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Port Louis but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Port Louis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Port Louis or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Port Louis 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, Port Louis or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Port Louis 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 Port Louis gentler on the wallet β expenses run 30% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Port Louis vs other spots: cost of living compared