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