😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Bucharest versus $1,110 in Dealu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,105 in Bucharest versus $1,841 in Dealu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,814 in Bucharest versus $2,572 in Dealu.
🌍Living in Bucharest is roughly 26% more expensive than in Dealu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 2% above, Dealu is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.50RON 71.0
$15.23RON 69.8
1.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9RON 274
$88.8RON 407
-32.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.54RON 34.53
$8.93RON 40.92
-15.57%
Cappuccino
$3.72RON 17.05
$2.06RON 9.42
80.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36RON 10.81
$2.12RON 9.69
11.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RON 10.53
$1.98RON 9.09
16.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98RON 18.23
$2.70RON 12.37
47.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.51RON 20.67
$3.47RON 15.91
29.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82RON 8.32
$1.77RON 8.09
2.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44RON 6.61
$1.40RON 6.41
2.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.34
$1.81RON 8.27
0.55%
Eggs
$3.94RON 18.05
$4.81RON 22.03
-18.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.47RON 43.37
$8.77RON 40.16
7.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.05RON 32.31
$5.73RON 26.27
23.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.16RON 55.7
$10.33RON 47.31
17.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33RON 6.10
$1.14RON 5.24
16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67RON 7.67
$1.59RON 7.29
5.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.49
$1.69RON 7.73
-2.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80RON 12.81
$2.79RON 12.80
0.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84RON 3.85
$0.75RON 3.44
12.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79RON 3.61
$0.69RON 3.16
14.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91RON 4.16
$0.74RON 3.37
22.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00RON 4.59
$0.86RON 3.92
16.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00RON 32.07
$5.82RON 26.65
20.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44RON 29.50
$6.77RON 31.01
-4.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24RON 5.69
$1.57RON 7.21
-21.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74RON 7.97
$2.05RON 9.37
-15.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86RON 3.93
$0.79RON 3.64
8.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.97RON 101
$22.31RON 102
-1.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63RON 2.91
$0.60RON 2.73
5.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69RON 3.16
$0.70RON 3.22
-1.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.68RON 30.61
$7.11RON 32.57
-6.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97RON 9.03
$1.90RON 8.70
3.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KRON 134.4K
$29.8KRON 136.6K
-1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KRON 130.2K
$30.4KRON 139.3K
-6.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192RON 878
$112RON 515
70.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.51RON 38.97
$11.49RON 52.6
-25.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.09RON 46.20
$5.09RON 23.30
98.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1RON 243
$39.79RON 182
33.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.78RON 118
$20.98RON 96.1
22.88%
Cinema Ticket
$8.57RON 39.24
$11.08RON 50.8
-22.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$664RON 3,043
$610RON 2,793
8.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1KRON 69.2K
$7,251RON 33.2K
108.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5RON 433
$62.5RON 286
51.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.90RON 187
$37.57RON 172
8.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.4RON 378
$131RON 599
-36.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.2RON 455
$110RON 502
-9.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$716RON 3,278
$412RON 1,887
73.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470RON 2,154
$306RON 1,402
53.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,149RON 5,265
$640RON 2,930
79.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$739RON 3,384
$473RON 2,168
56.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,881RON 17.8K
$1,877RON 8,596
106.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,277RON 10.4K
$1,398RON 6,404
62.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Dealu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,484RON 6,798
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.76
6.97
-3.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bucharest: September 15, 2026
Last update for Dealu: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Bucharest and $412 in Dealu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Bucharest vs $89.0 in Dealu. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $222, with Dealu cheaper for home cooking.
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 Dealu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and in Dealu?
Bucharest and Dealu differ by about 26% in total monthly costs ($1,397 vs $1,110 including rent). Dealu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bucharest compared to Dealu?
You'd need roughly $2,095 in Bucharest and $1,665 in Dealu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bucharest and in Dealu?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Bucharest versus $412 in Dealu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Dealu?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Bucharest versus $1,110 in Dealu – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Dealu?
A monthly transit pass in Dealu runs roughly 2% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,110 in Dealu versus $1,397 in Bucharest, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dealu but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Dealu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Dealu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bucharest or Dealu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Dealu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bucharest or Dealu?
Expats usually find Dealu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.