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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Roman versus $1,384 in Cluj-Napoca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,492 in Roman versus $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,987 in Roman versus $2,800 in Cluj-Napoca.

Living in Roman costs roughly 28% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Roman is 26% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.01 RON 52.1
$11.62 RON 50.4
3.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.97 RON 121
$56.4 RON 245
-50.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.95 RON 34.52
$7.91 RON 34.31
0.51%
Cappuccino
$3.44 RON 14.92
$3.52 RON 15.29
-2.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 RON 5.06
$2.40 RON 10.42
-51.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 RON 8.74
$2.20 RON 9.54
-8.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 RON 14.13
$3.14 RON 13.63
3.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 RON 10.06
$3.94 RON 17.10
-41.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 RON 6.62
$1.80 RON 7.79
-15.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 RON 3.89
$1.29 RON 5.62
-30.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 RON 7.15
$1.88 RON 8.14
-12.23%
Eggs
$3.12 RON 13.56
$3.37 RON 14.63
-7.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 RON 38.71
$10.21 RON 44.33
-12.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 RON 30.96
$7.27 RON 31.57
-1.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.58 RON 50.3
$12.10 RON 52.5
-4.30%
Apples (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.13
$1.24 RON 5.40
-23.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 RON 6.63
$1.79 RON 7.77
-14.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 RON 6.62
$1.64 RON 7.11
-7.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 RON 9.71
$2.40 RON 10.42
-6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.78 RON 3.41
$0.94 RON 4.09
-17.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 RON 4.38
$0.91 RON 3.96
10.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 RON 3.80
$1.03 RON 4.48
-15.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 RON 3.41
$0.95 RON 4.12
-16.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.01 RON 26.07
$6.55 RON 28.43
-8.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 RON 29.18
$7.75 RON 33.65
-13.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 RON 4.91
$1.12 RON 4.86
0.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 RON 7.18
$2.05 RON 8.91
-19.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 RON 3.13
$0.71 RON 3.07
1.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.10 RON 87.3
$22.87 RON 99.2
-12.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 RON 2.89
$0.99 RON 4.29
-32.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 RON 2.78
$0.84 RON 3.63
-23.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.77 RON 29.38
$9.08 RON 39.39
-25.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 6.91
$1.68 RON 7.29
-5.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K RON 121.1K
$28.6K RON 123.9K
-2.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K RON 119.4K
$26.5K RON 115.2K
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 RON 403
$158 RON 685
-41.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.48 RON 15.11
$9.15 RON 39.69
-61.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.62 RON 24.41
$10.13 RON 43.97
-44.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 RON 181
$43.86 RON 190
-4.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26 RON 83.6
$20.09 RON 87.2
-4.13%
Cinema Ticket
$10.76 RON 46.69
$8.10 RON 35.17
32.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$317 RON 1,377
$479 RON 2,080
-33.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,640 RON 28.8K
$10.6K RON 46.2K
-37.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5 RON 289
$68.8 RON 299
-3.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.07 RON 74.1
$39.64 RON 172
-56.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 RON 413
$83.6 RON 363
13.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.00 RON 152
$98.6 RON 428
-64.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$391 RON 1,696
$704 RON 3,056
-44.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 RON 1,266
$565 RON 2,451
-48.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 RON 2,525
$1,283 RON 5,569
-54.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$442 RON 1,917
$930 RON 4,037
-52.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,691 RON 7,339
$4,717 RON 20.5K
-64.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,271 RON 5,515
$3,404 RON 14.8K
-62.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roman
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$882 RON 3,828
$1,404 RON 6,093
-37.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.7
5.85
31.62%

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

Last update for Roman: April 21, 2026

Last update for Cluj-Napoca: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $391 in Roman and $704 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cluj-Napoca pays 59% 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: $28 in Roman vs $56 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $236 per month, with Roman 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
Roman vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Roman?
Roman is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Roman or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 59% 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 Roman and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $391 in Roman versus $704 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 Roman runs roughly 14% 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 $317 in Roman versus $479 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 Roman or Cluj-Napoca?
At $996 in Roman versus $1,384 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roman but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Roman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Roman or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Roman 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, Roman or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Roman 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 Roman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% 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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