🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,051 in Serpukhov versus $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Serpukhov versus $2,234 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,410 in Serpukhov versus $2,972 in Cluj-Napoca.
🌍Living in Serpukhov costs roughly 30% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Serpukhov is 24% below, Cluj-Napoca is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.78₽582
$13.28RON 60.0
-48.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.00₽2,832
$57.0RON 257
-42.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46₽469
$10.13RON 45.75
-46.10%
Cappuccino
$2.24₽192
$3.92RON 17.69
-42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91₽77.9
$2.54RON 11.47
-64.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60₽51.3
$2.39RON 10.79
-74.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.96₽82.5
$3.24RON 14.63
-70.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18₽101
$4.36RON 19.72
-72.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21₽104
$1.74RON 7.85
-30.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.69₽58.8
$1.57RON 7.07
-56.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24₽106
$1.90RON 8.60
-34.74%
Eggs
$1.09₽93.6
$3.99RON 18.05
-72.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.50₽729
$9.70RON 43.82
-12.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.12₽353
$7.75RON 35.01
-46.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.25₽708
$12.36RON 55.8
-33.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36₽117
$1.51RON 6.83
-9.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90₽163
$1.81RON 8.17
4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33₽200
$2.01RON 9.10
15.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64₽227
$2.63RON 11.89
0.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69₽59.6
$1.00RON 4.54
-31.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79₽67.5
$1.00RON 4.53
-21.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.74₽150
$0.98RON 4.42
77.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60₽51.7
$1.07RON 4.83
-43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29₽196
$6.74RON 30.43
-66.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.98₽599
$7.76RON 35.06
-10.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91₽78.2
$1.29RON 5.82
-29.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13₽97.1
$1.80RON 8.14
-37.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79₽68.2
$0.78RON 3.53
1.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$31.80RON 144
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85₽244
$0.97RON 4.38
193.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₽18.84
$1.01RON 4.57
-78.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.73₽492
$9.00RON 40.68
-36.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79₽68.0
$1.91RON 8.65
-58.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K₽2.6M
$30.2KRON 136.4K
0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K₽2.3M
$26.4KRON 119.3K
1.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102₽8,789
$168RON 757
-38.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.18₽444
$8.78RON 39.68
-41.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.05₽519
$10.41RON 47.01
-41.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.73₽2,981
$48.20RON 218
-27.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.92RON 108
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.11₽353
$10.15RON 45.85
-59.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455₽39.0K
$613RON 2,771
-25.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.1KRON 45.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.3₽7,063
$92.4RON 418
-10.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.26₽4,056
$47.93RON 217
-1.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$171₽14.7K
$105RON 473
63.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6₽7,861
$112RON 508
-18.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411₽35.3K
$665RON 3,004
-38.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406₽34.8K
$548RON 2,474
-25.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,212RON 5,477
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$858RON 3,878
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,765RON 21.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,587RON 16.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,054₽90.4K
$1,365RON 6,167
-22.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
6.8
194.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Serpukhov: August 29, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Serpukhov and $665 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 30% 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: $33.00 in Serpukhov vs $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $248 per month, with Serpukhov cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Serpukhov vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Serpukhov?
Serpukhov is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Serpukhov or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, salaries run 30% 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 Serpukhov and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Serpukhov versus $665 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $455 in Serpukhov versus $613 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Serpukhov or in Cluj-Napoca?
Dining out is cheaper in Serpukhov – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $57.0 in Cluj-Napoca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Serpukhov or in Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,051 in Serpukhov versus $1,497 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Serpukhov but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Serpukhov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Serpukhov or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Serpukhov 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, Serpukhov or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Serpukhov 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 Serpukhov gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.