What is the difference between Brussels and Cluj? This is like comparing apples to oranges.
But, we can compare the two cities.
Economy
The primary driver of Cluj’s economy is ten universities. Actually, it is the top three Universities. As some of the universities produce a lot of tech graduates, there are also bases for companies like Bosch, Porsche, and other big well known brands. Cluj also benefits from festivals, an airport, a cultural scene, And fed by these are real estate agents, casinos, and grocery stores.
Brussels also has universities, some pretty well known, but the main driver is international institutions (Especially the European Union and NATO). International institutions, and a location near other population centers like Paris, London, and important cities in Germany and the Netherlands mean that a lot of corporate offices are in Brussels, as well as NGOs and lobbyists. Almost every country you can think of has an embassy in Brussels, including those who are still fighting for independence, but a lot of organisations that you might not expect also have offices there.
Brussels has more of a tourist industry than Romania, benefiting from more knowledge of Belgium’s role in the world wars and the Napoleonic war. For those on a tour of Europe, “If it’s Tuesday, this must be Belgium.”
Bureaucracy
Outsiders from other Northern European countries, or North America, or rich Asian countries, might complain about Belgium bureaucracy, it’s nine ministers of health, and it’s government coalitions. That is because they have never been to Eastern Europe.
If you want to see bureaucracy in action (or inaction caused by bureacracy), move east or south. It is true that Western Europe has become more bureaucratic since 2003, maybe importing some from the east, but corporate bureaucracy in Cluj is amazing. New laws that affect self-employed people (including delivery drivers and construction workers) and teachers and everyone else seem to be passed daily, for no reason at all.
Yet, somehow, people do get things done. However, watch out, many lawyers and accountants do not keep up to date with all the changes. Make sure if you do pay for someone to help you through the red tape that you get someone good.
I am sure it is worse in Russia than in Cluj, but Cluj is more bureaucratic than Brussels. (And Romania takes every European suggestion for more red tape and enthusiastically doubles it.)
Things to see
Museums
Brussels has much larger museums, but they tend to be more expensive. A typical museum in Belgium is free to see once a month, but costs between ten and 16 euros for a normal adult ticket. In Cluj, if you don’t take photos, some museums are only two euros to see, and five euros feels expensive (although some cost up to seven euros).
But in Cluj, they charge extra to take photos at many places. I never heard of that in Brussels. Brussels museums can be massive, and take an entire day or even a week to see everything, while most Cluj museums can be seen in an hour. (Although you might benefit if you spend a little more time, as there are details you can enjoy if you don’t speed through them, hint hint.)
In Brussels, there are all kinds of discounts or even free tickets for jobseekers, the retired, even journalists. and most museums have memberships, and there is even a Museum card which allows one to see almost all museums on one subscription. In Cluj, we only know of one museum with a membership.
Food prices
Eating out in Brussels is far more expensive, sometimes it seems to be about twice as much as Cluj. Even though Cluj is expensive for Romania and Eastern Europe, you can still get a meal for about 20 lei (four euros). Okay, expect to pay more like 50 lei if you want a big choice, at somewhere like Mado or Spartan. But at Burger King in Cluj, you can get a burger, small fries, and small drink for 15 lei (three euros). The equivalent at a Quick in Brussels cost five euros.
And eating out at a tavern in Brussels costs more than 20 euros. At one pizzeria, we found meals for 12 euros, but we also saw salads at normal eateries for 23 euros and up. The same quality in Cluj-Napoca might be possible for 10 to 15 euros.
Street food
Street food in the Arabic speaking parts of Brussels can be quite cheap, however, and when you know where to go, you can find cheaper options. However, you don’t have to look hard to find good food at
However, the street food is different. Brussels has better and a wider selection of pastels de nata, fries and waffels. But it doesn’t have Palanets, Kurtos, a lot of Romanian deserts, or Langos.
Bakery items.
Bakery items are significantly cheaper in Cluj than in Brussels. They are widely different. There are Romanian bakeries in
Chocolate and groceries
Most groceries are of similar prices. Cereals, nuts, and some things are significantly more expensive in Brussels, but when you know how to look, basic foodstuffs can be bought for similar prices (organic milk actually seemed cheaper, and so did chocolate.)
Brussels naturally has a wider selection of chocolate, especially organic chocolate. However, if you want to buy quality vegetables and bread at an outdoor market, you will find a good selection in Cluj at affordable prices. (You’ll find quality in Brussels too, but it will cost you.)
Wages
Wages are far higher in Brussels for almost all jobs. But so are taxes, you claim? Hahahahaha. Romania also likes taxing people.
High-level engineers might get similar salaries, at least that is what Ukrainians and Indians who explored both eastern and western Europe have been telling us for years. (Not just one person from each country, this is a running theme.) But bakers, teachers, waiters, drivers, construction workers, cleaners, begining engineers, and many others will get paid much, much better in Brussels. That might be why we see more Romanians working in Belgium than Belgians in Romania.
Toilets
Anglo saxons might be used to free toilets. In Britain, there’s an expression “spend a penny” because you used to have to pay to use all public restrooms (or loos, toilets, bogs, whatever you want to call them.) But you can still find free toilets.
In Cluj, we saw some toilets for about 50 bani (like half a lei, or ten euro cents.) But they are free to use in the malls and many other places. Sometimes, a restaurant will have a code for customers.
In Brussels, even in the mall, or even in a fast food restaurant that you just ate at, the use of the toilet costs you one full euro! And, there’s a twenty one percent tax on taking a pee. Now that’s what we call taking the p***! That’s some expensive s*** right there!
There are some free toilets in Brussels, but they are becoming even more rare as we write this. We think Brussels might have the most expensive loos in Europe.
Rent and housing
Our experience with renting in Europe has not been ideal. The best country, as far as standards and infrastructure, seems to be France. Belgium is near France, and benefits from high standards in buildings and electricity and so on, most of the time.
Cluj-Napoca… well, expect the electricity in your block to go out, a few lights to blow up, and perhaps some of your appliances to break from a surge. The sewers might leak. Not as a daily occurance, but just beware that there are growing pains that might be getting worse with the installation of the metro.
Conclusion
Brussels is not that much like Cluj. There is so much we didn’t cover, including mall cops and gendarmes, transport, benefits for large families, diversity, and so on. Some of these things are rapidly changing in both cities.
There are things you will miss when moving from one city to the other.