😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,435 in Zilina versus $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,090 in Zilina versus $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,744 in Zilina versus $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca.
😐Living in Zilina is roughly 4% more expensive than Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zilina7% above, Cluj-Napoca3% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.44€8.06
$11.48RON 49.93
-17.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2€42.89
$57.9RON 252
-13.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04€6.86
$8.25RON 35.90
-2.55%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.18
$3.53RON 15.37
-27.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$2.33RON 10.13
-24.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.28
$2.22RON 9.65
-32.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28€1.95
$3.19RON 13.89
-28.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54€2.17
$3.90RON 16.94
-34.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.91
$1.72RON 7.50
-37.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39€1.19
$1.31RON 5.69
6.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05€1.75
$1.89RON 8.24
8.47%
Eggs
$3.71€3.16
$3.23RON 14.06
14.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38€12.28
$9.79RON 42.59
46.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.18€6.13
$7.15RON 31.11
0.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.23€11.30
$11.97RON 52.1
10.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$1.23RON 5.36
48.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83€1.56
$1.77RON 7.71
3.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39€2.04
$1.62RON 7.05
47.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.52€3.86
$2.37RON 10.32
90.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$0.97RON 4.20
41.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$0.93RON 4.05
94.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.45
$1.04RON 4.51
63.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.70
$0.87RON 3.78
-5.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56€5.60
$6.51RON 28.34
0.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.08€5.20
$7.79RON 33.89
-21.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10€0.94
$1.17RON 5.07
-5.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50€1.28
$1.96RON 8.51
-23.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18€1.01
$0.67RON 2.92
76.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.20€19.81
$23.34RON 102
-0.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.40€1.20
$1.00RON 4.35
40.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.87
$0.82RON 3.56
24.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.51€20.07
$9.52RON 41.41
146.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.51
$1.64RON 7.13
7.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K€24.7K
$28.3KRON 123.3K
2.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K€21.6K
$26.9KRON 116.8K
-6.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236€202
$158RON 686
49.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.40€25.96
$8.92RON 38.78
240.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59€16.73
$10.05RON 43.71
94.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.05€31.64
$43.60RON 190
-15.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.93€10.19
$20.27RON 88.2
-41.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.72
$7.93RON 34.48
14.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457€391
$490RON 2,131
-6.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,981€5,962
$10.5KRON 45.7K
-33.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9€50.3
$70.7RON 307
-16.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.66€21.06
$40.62RON 177
-39.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3€64.3
$85.1RON 370
-11.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€90.1
$99.6RON 433
5.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$573€489
$719RON 3,128
-20.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$514€439
$558RON 2,427
-7.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952€813
$1,274RON 5,541
-25.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$751€642
$951RON 4,135
-20.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,472€2,965
$4,661RON 20.3K
-25.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,999€2,561
$3,361RON 14.6K
-10.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zilina
Cluj-Napoca
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,419€1,212
$1,415RON 6,157
0.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
5.85
-25.98%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Zilina: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Cluj-Napoca: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $573 in Zilina and $719 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zilina pays 0% 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: $50.0 in Zilina vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $232, with Cluj-Napoca cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Zilina vs Cluj-Napoca: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Zilina?
Cluj-Napoca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zilina or Cluj-Napoca?
Zilina pays 0% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Zilina and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $573 in Zilina versus $719 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 Cluj-Napoca runs roughly 1% less than in Zilina. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $457 in Zilina versus $490 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 Zilina or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca versus $1,435 in Zilina, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cluj-Napoca but tight or insufficient in Zilina. The gap between the two cities makes Cluj-Napoca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Zilina or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Cluj-Napoca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zilina, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Zilina or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Zilina 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 Cluj-Napoca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Zilina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.