Student housing in Cluj: flatshare, studio or dormitory?

University dormitory, flatshare or studio: the options for a student in Cluj-Napoca, 2026 rents and the neighbourhoods to look at.

The Remoters editorial team

Published on

30 August 2023

Updated on

6 October 2026

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As a student in Cluj-Napoca, you have three options: a place in a university dormitory (cămin), a room in a flatshare, or a studio for yourself. The dormitory is by far the cheapest, but places are limited. A studio costs on average €400 per month according to the Storia portal (July 2026). In between, a flatshare in a two- or three-room apartment is often the best compromise.

Cluj is the most expensive rental market in Romania among the large cities tracked by Storia, with an average rent of €599 for a one- to three-room apartment in July 2026. Demand is driven by a large student population, with Babeș-Bolyai University, the largest in the country, and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, and it peaks in the weeks leading up to the start of the academic year.

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Hall of residence, shared flat or studio: comparing the three options

The university hall of residence (cămin)

Universities run their own halls. At Babeș-Bolyai University, the 2026-2027 price list sets the price of a place between 158 and 268 lei per month for a Romanian or European Union student, depending on the hall. Reduced rates, even free places, apply to certain categories of students, and non-scholarship international students fall under specific price lists. Rooms are shared and places are limited: ask your faculty as soon as you are admitted, and have a fallback solution.

The shared flat

This is the most common arrangement among students who don't have a place in a hall. According to Storia, a two-room apartment rented for an average of €599 per month in July 2026, and a three-room one for €749. Imobiliare.ro gives similar levels in September 2026: €580 for a two-room and €750 for a three-room. With two people in a two-room apartment, each person's share therefore comes to around €300, and with three people in a three-room, around €250, excluding charges.

Add charges (water, heating, common areas), often billed separately and generally between €50 and €150 per month for the home depending on the season. Clarify at the viewing what is included in the advertised rent.

The studio (garsonieră)

A studio offers independence but weighs heavily on a student budget: €400 per month on average in July 2026 according to Storia. Rents range from about €350 on the outskirts to €550 in the centre.

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The neighbourhoods to look at

Centru: everything on foot, at a high price

The historic centre concentrates faculties, cafés, libraries and cultural life. Everything is on foot, but rents there are the highest: according to Imobiliare.ro, an apartment in the heart of the city rents for an average of €750 per month. Shared between three, it remains feasible.

Zorilor: quiet and green

A residential neighbourhood south of the centre, close to the Botanical Garden, Zorilor is appreciated by students who want more quiet without going far. It is a good compromise between peace and access to the centre.

Gheorgheni and Mărăști: well connected

Gheorgheni is well linked by public transport and close to the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FSEGA). Mărăști, with its large parks, offers moderate rents and a good connection to the rest of the city. Two solid options for a shared flat.

Mănăștur and Dâmbul Rotund: the most affordable

According to Imobiliare.ro, these are the cheapest neighbourhoods in Cluj in September 2026, with an average rent of about €500 for an apartment. Mănăștur, a large working-class neighbourhood in the west, has plentiful rental supply and good bus service.

Andrei Mureșanu, Bună Ziua and Europa

Andrei Mureșanu, residential and leafy, targets a more affluent crowd. Bună Ziua and Europa, in the south, offer recent apartments, but a car is often needed there: check the route to your faculty before committing.

Application, lease and pitfalls to avoid

Landlords generally ask for ID (passport or identity card), proof of resources (scholarship certificate, bank statement or parents' commitment) and sometimes a certificate of enrolment. Prepare them in digital form before you start searching.

Get a written lease (contract de închiriere). It is written in Romanian: have it translated if needed and check that it states the rent, charges, term, security deposit and termination conditions.
Plan the amount to pay at move-in: the security deposit is generally one to two months' rent, on top of the first month. So allow two to three months' rent upfront.
Don't pay anything before viewing the home, in person or through someone you trust, and checking the landlord's identity.
Do an inspection report with photos at move-in, so you can get your deposit back when you leave.
In a shared flat, put the split of rent and bills in writing, and check who signs the lease.
Plan ahead: searches intensify from summer, before the start of the university year. Start at least four to eight weeks before you arrive.

Getting help to search remotely

If you are preparing your start of term from France or another country, it is hard to view places, read a lease in Romanian and react fast enough in such a tight market. A Remoters home finder based in Cluj-Napoca can search for you based on your faculty and budget, view the homes, prepare your application and go over the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.