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Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Romania Property Pack
Cluj-Napoca has become Romania's second-largest short-term rental market, and if you're wondering whether running an Airbnb there makes financial sense in 2026, you're asking the right question.
This guide breaks down the real numbers, legal requirements, and competitive landscape so you can make an informed decision about Airbnb hosting in Cluj-Napoca.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest housing prices in Cluj-Napoca and fresh Airbnb performance data as the market evolves.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Cluj-Napoca.
Insights
- The average Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca generates around €980 per month in gross revenue, but after expenses, most hosts take home between €200 and €450 monthly in net profit.
- One-bedroom apartments dominate 77% of Cluj-Napoca's short-term rental market, making this segment highly competitive while 2-bedroom units remain relatively undersupplied during festival season.
- UNTOLD festival in early August can boost nightly rates by 50% to 100% above normal prices, making it the single most profitable week for Cluj-Napoca Airbnb hosts.
- Cluj-Napoca's airport surpassed 3 million passengers in 2025 for the third consecutive year, which explains why short-stay demand remains strong even outside peak festival months.
- Romania's new 0.5% tourism promotion tax became effective in Cluj-Napoca in 2026, adding a small but often-overlooked expense that hosts must factor into their pricing.
- Top-performing hosts in Cluj-Napoca achieve 65% to 75% annual occupancy, while the average host hovers around 55%, representing a 10 to 20 percentage point performance gap.
- The Centru neighborhood commands the highest nightly rates at €65 to €95 per night, but it also has the most competition, making differentiation essential for new hosts.
- Romania requires a tourism classification certificate for short-term rentals, and Airbnb explicitly states that Romanian hosts must obtain and display this document.
Can I legally run an Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
Is short-term renting allowed in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, short-term renting is generally allowed in Cluj-Napoca, though hosts must comply with Romania's accommodation classification requirements rather than a simple permit system.
The main legal framework governing short-term rentals in Cluj-Napoca is Romania's Order 65/2013, which requires accommodations to obtain a tourism classification certificate before hosting guests.
The single most important condition for Airbnb hosts in Cluj-Napoca is obtaining this classification certificate, which Airbnb explicitly requires Romanian hosts to display on their listings.
For apartments specifically, hosts must also ensure their short-term rental activity doesn't violate their building's condominium rules or owners' association decisions under Law 196/2018.
Penalties for operating without proper classification can include fines and being forced to cease operations, though enforcement varies and typically follows complaints.
For a more general view, you can read our article detailing what exactly foreigners can own and buy in Romania.
If you are an American, you might want to read our blog article detailing the property rights of US citizens in Romania.
Are there minimum-stay rules and maximum nights-per-year caps for Airbnbs in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, Cluj-Napoca does not have a citywide minimum-stay requirement or maximum nights-per-year cap like you would find in cities such as London, Paris, or New York.
These rules do not differ by property type or host residency status in Cluj-Napoca because the city simply hasn't implemented such restrictions for any category of short-term rental.
However, hosts should watch EU-level momentum toward registration and data-sharing requirements under Regulation 2024/1028, which will increase transparency and enforcement visibility across member states including Romania.
Do I have to live there, or can I Airbnb a secondary home in Cluj-Napoca right now?
There is no residency requirement for operating an Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca, meaning you don't need to live in the property or even in the city to host.
Owners of secondary homes and investment properties can legally operate short-term rentals in Cluj-Napoca as long as they meet the tourism classification requirements and handle taxes properly.
No additional permits or conditions specifically apply to non-primary residence short-term rentals beyond the standard classification certificate that all hosts need.
In practical terms, there is no meaningful difference in rules between renting out a primary residence versus a secondary home in Cluj-Napoca, which makes the city relatively accessible for investors.
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Can I run multiple Airbnbs under one name in Cluj-Napoca right now?
You can legally operate multiple Airbnb listings under one name in Cluj-Napoca, as Romanian law does not set a hard cap on the number of properties a single person or entity can list.
There is no maximum number of properties one host can register for short-term rental in Cluj-Napoca, though running more units pushes you toward business-like operational expectations.
Hosts with multiple listings face the same classification certificate requirements per property, plus increased scrutiny around consistent documentation and tax compliance.
The practical limitation tends to be building-level rather than citywide, since operating several units in the same apartment complex dramatically increases neighbor complaints and owners' association friction.
Do I need a short-term rental license or a business registration to host in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main license-like requirement for Airbnb hosts in Cluj-Napoca is obtaining a tourism classification certificate for your accommodation, which Airbnb requires Romanian hosts to obtain and display.
The process involves applying to the local tourism authority with property documentation, and while timelines vary, hosts should budget several weeks to a few months for approval.
Required documents typically include proof of property ownership or rental rights, floor plans, photos of the accommodation, and evidence that the property meets classification standards.
Separately, you must register rental income with ANAF using Form C168 and treat the income properly for taxes, which may involve additional filings depending on your tax structure.
Are there neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are no officially published neighborhood bans or restricted zones for Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca in the way you might see in some Western European capitals.
The more realistic "restricted zone" dynamic in Cluj-Napoca comes from individual building rules, where owners' associations can effectively prohibit or restrict short-term rentals through house rules and majority votes.
Instead of geographic bans, Cluj-Napoca has implemented a 0.5% tourism promotion tax from 2026 that applies citywide to all accommodations, adding a small cost that many hosts don't anticipate.
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How much can an Airbnb earn in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
What's the average and median nightly price on Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average nightly price for an Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca is approximately €60 (around $65 USD or 300 RON), while the median nightly price sits closer to €55 (around $60 USD or 275 RON).
The typical nightly price range that covers roughly 80% of Cluj-Napoca Airbnb listings falls between €40 and €95 (approximately $43 to $103 USD or 200 to 475 RON).
The single biggest factor affecting nightly pricing in Cluj-Napoca is location relative to the historic center and major event venues like Cluj Arena and BT Arena, with walkable central properties commanding significant premiums.
By the way, you will find much more detailed profitability rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cluj-Napoca.
How much do nightly prices vary by neighborhood in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, nightly prices in Cluj-Napoca vary significantly, with the most expensive neighborhoods like Centru averaging €65 to €95 per night (around $70 to $103 USD) while more affordable areas like Mănăștur and Someșeni average €40 to €65 per night (around $43 to $70 USD).
The three neighborhoods with the highest average nightly prices in Cluj-Napoca are Centru (the Old Town area) at €65 to €95 (around $70 to $103 USD), Andrei Mureșanu at €55 to €90 (around $60 to $98 USD), and Grigorescu at €55 to €90 (around $60 to $98 USD).
The three neighborhoods with the lowest average nightly prices are Mănăștur at €40 to €65 (around $43 to $70 USD), Iris at €40 to €65, and Someșeni at €40 to €65, though guests still choose these areas for budget-conscious stays and local neighborhood experiences.
What's the typical occupancy rate in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the typical occupancy rate for an Airbnb listing in Cluj-Napoca is approximately 55% on an annual basis.
The realistic occupancy rate range that covers most listings in Cluj-Napoca falls between 45% and 65%, with significant variation based on listing quality, pricing strategy, and responsiveness to inquiries.
Cluj-Napoca's 55% average occupancy is solid for a secondary Romanian city and compares favorably to many regional markets, though it trails major European capitals where occupancy can exceed 70%.
The single biggest factor in achieving above-average occupancy in Cluj-Napoca is a combination of competitive pricing, professional photos, self check-in capability, and maintaining a review score above 4.8 stars.
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What's the average monthly revenue per listing in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the average monthly revenue per Airbnb listing in Cluj-Napoca is approximately €980 (around $1,065 USD or 4,900 RON) in gross revenue.
The realistic monthly revenue range that covers roughly 80% of Cluj-Napoca listings falls between €550 and €1,400 (approximately $600 to $1,520 USD or 2,750 to 7,000 RON).
Top-performing Airbnb listings in Cluj-Napoca can achieve €1,800 to €2,500 per month during peak season, especially 2-bedroom properties near event venues that capitalize on festival demand with a quick calculation showing that €80 nightly rate times 25 booked nights equals €2,000 monthly gross.
Finally, note that we give here all the information you need to buy and rent out a property in Cluj-Napoca.
What's the typical low-season vs high-season monthly revenue in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, typical monthly revenue during high season (June through August) in Cluj-Napoca ranges from €1,500 to €2,200 (approximately $1,630 to $2,390 USD or 7,500 to 11,000 RON), while low season (November through February) typically brings €550 to €900 per month (approximately $600 to $980 USD or 2,750 to 4,500 RON).
High season in Cluj-Napoca runs from June through August, driven by major events including TIFF film festival in mid-June, Electric Castle in mid-July, and UNTOLD festival in early August, while low season covers November through February when tourism slows significantly.
What's a realistic Airbnb monthly expense range in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, a realistic monthly expense range for operating an Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca is €350 to €750 (approximately $380 to $815 USD or 1,750 to 3,750 RON) for self-managed properties, or €650 to €1,250 (approximately $705 to $1,360 USD or 3,250 to 6,250 RON) with professional management.
The largest single expense category for most Cluj-Napoca Airbnb hosts is cleaning and laundry services combined with utilities, typically accounting for €150 to €300 monthly (approximately $163 to $326 USD or 750 to 1,500 RON).
Hosts in Cluj-Napoca should expect to spend 50% to 70% of gross revenue on operating expenses, depending on whether they self-manage or hire a property manager who typically charges 15% to 25% of revenue.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Cluj-Napoca.
What's realistic monthly net profit and profit per available night for Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, realistic monthly net profit for an Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca is €200 to €450 (approximately $217 to $490 USD or 1,000 to 2,250 RON), with profit per available night ranging from €7 to €15 (approximately $7.60 to $16.30 USD or 35 to 75 RON).
The realistic monthly net profit range that covers most Cluj-Napoca listings falls between €150 and €500 (approximately $163 to $544 USD or 750 to 2,500 RON), with significant variation based on management style and seasonal timing.
Hosts in Cluj-Napoca typically achieve net profit margins of 20% to 35% after accounting for all operating expenses, taxes, and platform fees.
The break-even occupancy rate for a typical Airbnb listing in Cluj-Napoca is approximately 35% to 45%, meaning hosts need to book roughly 11 to 14 nights per month just to cover their costs before generating any profit.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Cluj-Napoca, we explain the best strategies to improve your cashflows.
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How competitive is Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
How many active Airbnb listings are in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, there are approximately 1,500 active Airbnb listings in Cluj-Napoca, with a broader market footprint of around 2,200 total available listings when including inactive or seasonal properties.
This number has grown steadily over recent years as Cluj-Napoca's reputation as Romania's tech hub and festival destination has attracted more investors, though growth has moderated compared to the rapid expansion seen in 2018 through 2022.
Which neighborhoods are most saturated in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the most saturated neighborhoods for Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca are Centru (the Old Town and Piața Unirii area), Gheorgheni (near Iulius Mall), Zorilor (the medical and university district), and Mărăști (with good transit connections).
These neighborhoods became saturated because they combine walkability to the historic center with proximity to Cluj's major demand generators like Cluj Arena, BT Arena, major hospitals, and the technical university, creating a cluster effect where hosts naturally gravitate.
Relatively undersaturated neighborhoods that may offer better opportunities for new hosts include Grigorescu, Andrei Mureșanu, and parts of Mănăștur, where there's room to differentiate with quality listings targeting specific guest segments.
What local events spike demand in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, the main local events that spike Airbnb demand in Cluj-Napoca are UNTOLD festival (August 6 to 9, 2026), TIFF film festival (June 12 to 21, 2026), Electric Castle (July 16 to 19, 2026, held nearby in Bonțida), and the Sports Festival at BT Arena in June.
During these peak events, hosts in Cluj-Napoca typically see booking rates increase by 30% to 50% above normal, with nightly rates often jumping 50% to 100% higher than standard pricing, particularly during UNTOLD weekend.
Hosts should adjust their pricing and availability at least 2 to 3 months before these major events, setting higher minimum stays (2 to 4 nights) and premium rates while blocking off dates strategically to capture full-week bookings.
What occupancy differences exist between top and average hosts in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, top-performing hosts in Cluj-Napoca achieve annual occupancy rates of 65% to 75%, significantly outperforming the market average.
Average hosts in Cluj-Napoca typically see around 55% annual occupancy, meaning top performers enjoy a 10 to 20 percentage point advantage that translates directly into higher revenue and better profit margins.
A new host in Cluj-Napoca can typically reach top-performer occupancy levels within 6 to 12 months if they invest in professional photography, implement dynamic pricing, maintain a 4.8+ star rating, and offer self check-in with responsive communication.
We give more details about the different Airbnb strategies to adopt in our property pack covering the real estate market in Cluj-Napoca.
Which price points are most crowded, and where's the "white space" for new hosts in Cluj-Napoca right now?
The nightly price range with the highest concentration of listings in Cluj-Napoca is €40 to €65 per night (approximately $43 to $70 USD or 200 to 325 RON), dominated by studios and basic one-bedroom apartments.
White space opportunities for new hosts in Cluj-Napoca exist at the €75 to €100 per night range (approximately $81 to $109 USD or 375 to 500 RON), particularly for event-ready 2-bedroom units near venues like Cluj Arena and BT Arena that can comfortably sleep 4 to 6 guests.
To compete successfully in this underserved segment, new hosts should focus on properties with dedicated parking, superior sound insulation for festival weeks, flexible sleeping arrangements for groups, and premium amenities like air conditioning and high-speed Wi-Fi.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Romania compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What property works best for Airbnb demand in Cluj-Napoca right now?
What bedroom count gets the most bookings in Cluj-Napoca as of 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, one-bedroom apartments get the most bookings in Cluj-Napoca, accounting for approximately 77% of all short-term rental supply in the city.
The estimated booking rate breakdown by bedroom count in Cluj-Napoca shows 1-bedroom units capturing around 75% of bookings, studios around 10%, 2-bedroom units around 12%, and 3-bedroom or larger properties around 3%.
One-bedroom apartments perform best in Cluj-Napoca because the city's demand profile centers on city breaks, couples, solo travelers, and short business trips, all segments that prefer compact, affordable accommodations over larger properties.
What property type performs best in Cluj-Napoca in 2026?
As of the first half of 2026, entire-place apartments and condos (particularly studios through 2-bedroom units) perform best for Airbnb in Cluj-Napoca, offering the optimal balance of steady occupancy and manageable operating costs.
Occupancy rates vary by property type in Cluj-Napoca, with entire apartments averaging 55% to 60% annually, houses and townhouses averaging 45% to 55% (more seasonal), and private rooms averaging 40% to 50%.
Apartments outperform other property types in Cluj-Napoca because the city's demand is concentrated in the central districts where apartments dominate housing stock, and the typical guest profile of couples, solo travelers, and business visitors prefers the convenience and value of central apartments over houses in residential neighborhoods.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Cluj-Napoca, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| AirDNA | AirDNA is a widely used short-term rental data provider that aggregates listing performance at market level. | We used it for the baseline market shape: total listings, bedroom mix, ADR, occupancy, and annual revenue. We treated it as the anchor dataset and cross-checked key numbers with a second STR data provider. |
| Airbtics | Airbtics publishes structured market snapshots with time windows and methodology links. | We used it to triangulate ADR, occupancy, listings count, and seasonality patterns. We used the AirDNA and Airbtics range to produce a single confident planning estimate for January 2026. |
| Imobiliare.ro | Imobiliare.ro is Romania's largest real estate portal and its index is a commonly referenced national benchmark. | We used it as the primary reference for current asking prices in Cluj-Napoca. We used it to frame acquisition cost assumptions for apartments, the dominant STR property type locally. |
| SonarHome | It provides a dated city-level price snapshot, useful as a second check against Imobiliare.ro. | We used it as a cross-check on the headline price per square meter level for January 2026. We used the overlap with Imobiliare.ro-based reporting to avoid relying on a single portal. |
| Eurostat | Eurostat is the EU's official statistics office with transparent methodology. | We used it to contextualize Romania's housing price cycle and macro tailwinds or risks. We used it to keep the article honest about price risk rather than assuming straight-line appreciation. |
| National Bank of Romania (BNR) | BNR is Romania's central bank and its inflation and interest rate commentary is the official macro reference. | We used it to ground financing assumptions in the high interest rate environment and cost pressures. We used it to explain why cap rates and yields must be conservative in 2026. |
| Cluj Airport | It's the official airport operator communicating audited traffic milestones. | We used it as a demand proxy: strong inbound and outbound travel supports year-round short stays. We used it to justify why Cluj performs more like a city-break market than a pure seasonal resort. |
| INS (National Institute of Statistics) | INS is Romania's official statistics authority and publishes standardized tourism series. | We used it to anchor the broader Romania tourism trend including arrivals and overnights. We used it to avoid relying only on platform data to describe demand. |
| EU Regulation 2024/1028 | EUR-Lex is the EU's official legal database and regulations are directly binding. | We used it to explain why registration and data-sharing requirements are tightening across the EU including Romania. We used it as the forward-looking regulation risk lens for 2026 and 2027. |
| Airbnb Help Center | It's Airbnb's official compliance guidance for hosts in Romania. | We used it to confirm platform expectations around Romania's classification certificate. We used it as a practical checklist layer on top of the underlying Romanian legal texts. |
| Romania Legal Portal (Order 65/2013) | legislatie.just.ro is Romania's official legislative portal for consolidated legal texts. | We used it to ground the classification certificate requirement in primary law. We used it to frame what legal to host typically means in Romania: classified accommodation, not just an Airbnb listing. |
| Romania Legal Portal (Law 196/2018) | It's the official Romanian legislative portal for national laws. | We used it to explain why apartment building rules and owners' association decisions matter in practice. We used it to highlight the biggest real-world friction point for apartments: neighbors and association constraints. |
| ANAF Form C168 | ANAF is Romania's national tax authority and publishes official forms and procedures. | We used it to show that rentals have an administrative and tax workflow beyond Airbnb. We used it to support the guidance about not ignoring paperwork for individuals. |
| Romanian Fiscal Code (Law 227/2015) | It's the national fiscal code text used by public institutions and updated via subsequent acts. | We used it as the primary reference for how rental income is treated conceptually. We used it to keep net profit estimates realistic because gross revenue does not equal take-home. |
| Cluj-Napoca City Hall | It's the municipality's official communication channel for local taxes and fees. | We used it to include a Cluj-specific and non-obvious cost item many hosts miss: the local tourism promotion tax. We built it into the expense range and net profit math for January 2026. |
| TIFF | TIFF is Cluj's flagship film festival with official event pages for each edition. | We used it to identify a predictable demand spike window in June. We used it to explain seasonality and where to price up and set minimum stays ethically and competitively. |
| UNTOLD | It's the festival's official organizer site announcing dates and ticketing. | We used it to justify the single biggest annual pricing and occupancy spike in Cluj. We used it to model high season revenue and to recommend stay rules around the festival. |
| Electric Castle | Official festival site for a major regional event that pulls visitors into the Cluj area. | We used it as a July demand driver especially for groups even though it's held in Bonțida. We used it to justify why 2BR and 3BR homes can outperform during peak weekends. |
| BT Arena | It's the venue's official calendar and reflects real booking-driven demand. | We used it to add a local and venue-based demand spike beyond the big two festivals. We used it to show that Cluj demand isn't only August because June can also be very strong. |
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