Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjul and Bucharest

For one person, living is cheaper in Banjul: $676 a month against $1,371 in Bucharest, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Banjul, Gambia
Bucharest, Romania
Banjul
🇬🇲 Gambia
$676
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Banjul and in Bucharest

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Banjul and in Bucharest actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $676 per month in Banjul vs $1,371 in Bucharest, rent included.

  • Banjul $676
  • Bucharest $1,371

A couple spends around $1,183 per month in Banjul vs $2,067 in Bucharest, rent included.

  • Banjul $1,183
  • Bucharest $2,067

A family of three spends $1,690 per month in Banjul vs $2,764 in Bucharest, rent included.

  • Banjul $1,690
  • Bucharest $2,764

Banjul is about 51% cheaper than Bucharest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29 GMD 541
$14.51 RON 69.0
-49.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.4 GMD 5,443
$61.2 RON 291
19.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.03 GMD 596
$7.46 RON 35.46
7.64%
Cappuccino
$3.82 GMD 283
$3.64 RON 17.31
4.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 GMD 193
$2.62 RON 12.43
-0.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 GMD 116
$2.36 RON 11.23
-33.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 GMD 411
$3.78 RON 17.98
46.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43 GMD 328
$4.11 RON 19.52
7.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 GMD 98.7
$1.66 RON 7.89
-19.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.64 GMD 47.51
$1.40 RON 6.64
-54.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 GMD 98.1
$1.79 RON 8.53
-26.26%
Eggs
$1.96 GMD 145
$3.63 RON 17.25
-46.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.29 GMD 467
$8.92 RON 42.38
-29.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.77 GMD 205
$6.86 RON 32.62
-59.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.76 GMD 427
$11.99 RON 57.0
-51.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 GMD 147
$1.30 RON 6.16
52.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 GMD 91.1
$1.63 RON 7.76
-24.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 GMD 137
$1.49 RON 7.09
24.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 GMD 102
$2.54 RON 12.08
-45.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.95 GMD 70.6
$0.81 RON 3.86
17.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.94 GMD 69.9
$0.80 RON 3.78
17.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.23 GMD 16.97
$0.86 RON 4.07
-73.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 GMD 49.20
$0.94 RON 4.46
-29.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 GMD 129
$6.60 RON 31.38
-73.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.32 GMD 469
$6.33 RON 30.08
-0.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 GMD 112
$1.19 RON 5.64
26.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 GMD 129
$1.58 RON 7.53
10.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 GMD 14.35
$0.98 RON 4.64
-80.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.61 GMD 490
$20.91 RON 99.4
-68.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.60 RON 2.86
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 GMD 48.25
$0.62 RON 2.93
4.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.98 GMD 295
$6.37 RON 30.25
-37.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 GMD 76.4
$2.02 RON 9.62
-49.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$2,616 GMD 193.9K
$28.2K RON 134.0K
-90.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$3,328 GMD 246.7K
$26.3K RON 124.8K
-87.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.51 GMD 2,262
$196 RON 932
-84.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.17 GMD 1,051
$8.60 RON 40.84
64.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.79 GMD 3,395
$9.20 RON 43.69
397.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.10 GMD 1,787
$51.0 RON 242
-52.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.86 GMD 1,028
$25.04 RON 119
-44.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32 GMD 246
$8.26 RON 39.27
-59.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$6.65 GMD 493
$681 RON 3,234
-99.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$136 GMD 10.1K
$18.7K RON 89.0K
-99.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 GMD 4,253
$93.3 RON 443
-38.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.39 GMD 3,291
$39.87 RON 189
11.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 GMD 7,327
$80.1 RON 381
23.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.0 GMD 6,377
$90.6 RON 431
-5.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$102 GMD 7,526
$731 RON 3,473
-86.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$82.3 GMD 6,104
$470 RON 2,232
-82.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$220 GMD 16.3K
$1,110 RON 5,276
-80.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 GMD 10.1K
$722 RON 3,431
-81.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,450 GMD 107.5K
$3,749 RON 17.8K
-61.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,153 GMD 85.5K
$2,233 RON 10.6K
-48.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjul
Bucharest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$61.6 GMD 4,569
$1,365 RON 6,487
-95.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
6.75
122.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Banjul: October 31, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Eating Out
Banjul
$181
Bucharest
$229 26.3% $48
Groceries & Markets
Banjul
$152
Bucharest
$225 48.2% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Banjul
$129
Bucharest
$137 6% $7.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjul
$90
Bucharest
$214 137% $124
Accommodation & Living
Banjul
$82
Bucharest
$470 471% $387
Sport & Entertainment
Banjul
$31
Bucharest
$68 120% $37
Getting Around
Banjul
$11 *
Bucharest
$29 168% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $102 in Banjul versus $731 in Bucharest. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bucharest are about 22 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73 in Banjul versus $61 in Bucharest. Groceries tell a different story – $152 in Banjul vs $225 in Bucharest – so Banjul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇬🇲 Banjul
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🕒 Local time
06:53 6:53 AM
08:53 8:53 AM
2 h ahead of Banjul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,356 Capital
1,883,425 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to GMD – Gambian Dalasi Converter

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 74.15 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 83.24 GMD (100 GMD = 1.2 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 4.75 RON (1 RON = 0.21 USD). 1 EUR = 5.33 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Banjul Bucharest 5,300 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Banjul
  • Bucharest

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Banjul vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjul cheaper than Bucharest?
Yes – Bucharest is pricier by about 103%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,014 per month in Banjul and $2,056 in Bucharest. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjul, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $102 there versus $731 in Bucharest.
What are total monthly expenses in Banjul and in Bucharest?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Banjul and $1,371 in Bucharest. That makes Banjul about 51% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Banjul or in Bucharest?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $676, than in Bucharest at $1,371. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bucharest it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banjul or Bucharest more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjul. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bucharest makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Banjul vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?