Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Boulogne-Billancourt

For one person, living is cheaper in Bucharest: $1,340 a month against $2,673 in Boulogne-Billancourt, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,340
/mo nomad
Boulogne-Billancourt
🇫🇷 France
$2,673
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bucharest and in Boulogne-Billancourt

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,340 in Bucharest versus $2,673 in Boulogne-Billancourt.

  • Bucharest $1,340
  • Boulogne-Billancourt $2,673

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Bucharest versus $3,893 in Boulogne-Billancourt.

  • Bucharest $2,037
  • Boulogne-Billancourt $3,893

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,734 in Bucharest versus $5,113 in Boulogne-Billancourt.

  • Bucharest $2,734
  • Boulogne-Billancourt $5,113

Living in Bucharest costs roughly 50% less than in Boulogne-Billancourt, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 1% below, Boulogne-Billancourt is 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.49 RON 68.9
$16.67 €14.86
-13.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 RON 276
$56.6 €50.5
2.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 RON 35.60
$13.63 €12.15
-45.12%
Cappuccino
$3.44 RON 16.38
$5.19 €4.63
-33.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 RON 11.28
$4.56 €4.06
-48.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 RON 10.94
$2.71 €2.42
-15.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 RON 17.60
$7.84 €6.99
-52.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 RON 19.80
$5.44 €4.85
-23.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.94
$1.33 €1.18
25.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 RON 6.53
$2.25 €2.00
-39.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 RON 8.18
$2.74 €2.44
-37.23%
Eggs
$3.64 RON 17.31
$3.84 €3.43
-5.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 RON 43.21
$16.64 €14.84
-45.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 RON 32.52
$11.65 €10.39
-41.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.00 RON 57.1
$20.31 €18.11
-40.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.83
$3.25 €2.90
-62.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.77
$2.16 €1.93
-24.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.49
$2.24 €2.00
-29.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 RON 12.08
$4.25 €3.79
-40.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.77
$1.82 €1.63
-56.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.68
$2.19 €1.95
-64.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 RON 4.15
$1.79 €1.60
-51.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 RON 4.73
$0.66 €0.59
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 RON 30.02
$13.02 €11.61
-51.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 RON 29.51
$8.90 €7.94
-30.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.66
$0.93 €0.83
27.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.49
$1.61 €1.43
-2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 RON 4.10
$2.29 €2.04
-62.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.10 RON 100
$47.66 €42.50
-55.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 RON 3.06
$2.19 €1.95
-70.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.87
$1.11 €0.99
-45.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 RON 30.60
$32.47 €28.95
-80.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 RON 9.31
$2.17 €1.93
-9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K RON 138.0K
$34.5K €30.8K
-16.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K RON 126.7K
$35.1K €31.3K
-24.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 RON 932
$248 €221
-21.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04 RON 38.25
$22.14 €19.74
-63.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.35 RON 44.46
$32.28 €28.78
-71.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 RON 239
$34.94 €31.16
43.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.33 RON 121
$22.49 €20.05
12.63%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 RON 38.76
$14.46 €12.89
-43.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 RON 2,988
$835 €745
-24.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K RON 67.0K
$9,936 €8,859
41.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.6 RON 426
$109 €97.1
-17.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 RON 182
$45.48 €40.55
-15.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 RON 377
$102 €91.2
-22.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 RON 430
$159 €142
-43.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$678 RON 3,227
$1,323 €1,180
-48.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 RON 2,133
$1,398 €1,247
-67.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 RON 5,153
$2,710 €2,416
-60.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$725 RON 3,449
$2,374 €2,116
-69.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 RON 17.8K
$3,857 €3,439
-2.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,195 RON 10.4K
$2,984 €2,661
-26.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Boulogne-Billancourt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,329 RON 6,324
$4,221 €3,763
-68.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
3.9
73.08%

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

Last update for Bucharest: October 12, 2026

Last update for Boulogne-Billancourt: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
$448
Boulogne-Billancourt
$1.4K 212% $950
Eating Out
Bucharest
$225
Boulogne-Billancourt
$316 40.2% $91
Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
$225
Boulogne-Billancourt
$341 51.6% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
$213
Boulogne-Billancourt
$303 41.9% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
$134
Boulogne-Billancourt
$187 39.7% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
$67
Boulogne-Billancourt
$64 4% $2.7
Getting Around
Bucharest
$28
Boulogne-Billancourt
$65 129% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $678 in Bucharest and $1,323 in Boulogne-Billancourt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boulogne-Billancourt pays 217% 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: $58.0 in Bucharest vs $57.0 in Boulogne-Billancourt. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $341, with Bucharest cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🇫🇷 Boulogne-Billancourt
🕒 Local time
05:03 5:03 AM
04:03 4:03 AM
1 h behind Bucharest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,883,425 Capital
119,808
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 4.76 RON (1 RON = 0.21 USD). 1 EUR = 5.33 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bucharest Boulogne-Billancourt 1,880 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bucharest
  • Boulogne-Billancourt

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
Bucharest vs Boulogne-Billancourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boulogne-Billancourt cheaper than Bucharest?
Bucharest is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bucharest or Boulogne-Billancourt?
On paper, salaries run 217% lower in Boulogne-Billancourt. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bucharest and Boulogne-Billancourt?
Rent for a central apartment: $678 in Bucharest versus $1,323 in Boulogne-Billancourt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $628 in Bucharest versus $835 in Boulogne-Billancourt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Bucharest and in Boulogne-Billancourt?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Boulogne-Billancourt. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Bucharest or in Boulogne-Billancourt?
At $1,340 in Bucharest versus $2,673 in Boulogne-Billancourt, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bucharest but tight or insufficient in Boulogne-Billancourt. The gap between the two cities makes Bucharest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bucharest or Boulogne-Billancourt more family-friendly?
For families, Bucharest is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boulogne-Billancourt, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bucharest or Boulogne-Billancourt?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Boulogne-Billancourt 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 Bucharest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Boulogne-Billancourt. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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