🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,146 in Serpukhov versus $1,393 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,791 in Serpukhov versus $2,114 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,437 in Serpukhov versus $2,836 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Living in Serpukhov costs roughly 18% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Serpukhov is 15% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.77₽971
$11.33RON 48.95
12.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1₽4,345
$56.7RON 245
0.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.48₽493
$7.83RON 33.81
-17.24%
Cappuccino
$3.29₽250
$3.50RON 15.10
-6.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39₽106
$2.35RON 10.15
-40.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66₽50.5
$2.11RON 9.10
-68.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.42₽108
$3.16RON 13.64
-55.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37₽332
$3.82RON 16.50
14.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32₽101
$1.78RON 7.68
-25.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84₽64.0
$1.30RON 5.61
-35.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76₽134
$1.81RON 7.83
-2.76%
Eggs
$1.48₽113
$3.37RON 14.55
-56.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.99₽988
$10.08RON 43.56
28.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.48₽341
$7.15RON 30.88
-37.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.91₽906
$11.70RON 50.6
1.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.90₽144
$1.21RON 5.21
57.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01₽153
$1.78RON 7.69
12.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29₽174
$1.56RON 6.72
46.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19₽318
$2.28RON 9.85
83.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98₽74.6
$0.94RON 4.06
4.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.85₽64.6
$0.99RON 4.26
-14.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64₽125
$1.04RON 4.48
57.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₽56.6
$0.87RON 3.74
-14.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13₽238
$6.24RON 26.97
-49.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44₽490
$7.96RON 34.38
-19.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87₽66.1
$1.16RON 5.01
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₽178
$1.97RON 8.52
18.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽37.28
$0.67RON 2.90
-26.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.47RON 101
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.57₽196
$0.98RON 4.24
162.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47₽35.80
$0.82RON 3.55
-42.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.52₽496
$9.13RON 39.42
-28.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80₽60.7
$1.70RON 7.36
-52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K₽2.9M
$27.5KRON 118.9K
39.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K₽2.8M
$26.9KRON 116.2K
35.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153₽11.6K
$161RON 697
-5.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.80₽593
$8.91RON 38.50
-12.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.77₽591
$9.80RON 42.33
-20.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.21₽2,678
$44.52RON 192
-20.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.73RON 85.3
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.37₽485
$8.22RON 35.51
-22.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329₽25.0K
$489RON 2,113
-32.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,016₽533.6K
$10.5KRON 45.4K
-33.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0₽6,695
$68.8RON 297
28.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.7₽4,008
$39.45RON 170
33.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$134₽10.2K
$85.2RON 368
57.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165₽12.5K
$99.0RON 427
66.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$441₽33.5K
$714RON 3,084
-38.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301₽22.9K
$545RON 2,355
-44.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$761₽57.9K
$1,256RON 5,427
-39.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510₽38.8K
$936RON 4,043
-45.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,741RON 20.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,413RON 14.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serpukhov
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,182₽89.9K
$1,412RON 6,101
-16.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
5.85
79.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Serpukhov: April 14, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Serpukhov and $714 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cluj-Napoca pays 19% 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: $57 in Serpukhov vs $57 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $232 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Serpukhov or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 19% 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 Serpukhov and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $441 in Serpukhov versus $714 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 $329 in Serpukhov versus $489 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 Cluj-Napoca?
Dining out is cheaper in Serpukhov – a meal for two runs $57.0 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 Serpukhov or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,146 in Serpukhov versus $1,393 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 22% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.