😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,362 in Bucharest versus $1,126 in Giurgiu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,133 in Bucharest versus $1,744 in Giurgiu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,903 in Bucharest versus $2,363 in Giurgiu.
🌍Living in Bucharest is roughly 21% more expensive than in Giurgiu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 2% above, Giurgiu is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09RON 64.6
$12.40RON 56.9
13.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.8RON 316
$50.8RON 233
35.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.08RON 37.04
$7.97RON 36.56
1.38%
Cappuccino
$3.39RON 15.55
$3.44RON 15.80
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24RON 10.28
$1.98RON 9.08
13.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42RON 11.09
$2.11RON 9.67
14.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38RON 15.52
$3.30RON 15.16
2.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83RON 17.57
$3.48RON 15.98
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72RON 7.88
$1.55RON 7.11
10.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RON 6.19
$1.31RON 6.00
3.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.41
$1.85RON 8.47
-1.08%
Eggs
$3.65RON 16.72
$3.36RON 15.42
8.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.23RON 42.31
$8.65RON 39.65
6.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.85RON 31.43
$7.13RON 32.69
-3.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.03RON 55.2
$12.01RON 55.1
0.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34RON 6.15
$1.13RON 5.20
18.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RON 7.90
$1.72RON 7.89
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.34
$1.56RON 7.13
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39RON 10.97
$2.39RON 10.97
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.04RON 4.78
$0.93RON 4.28
11.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02RON 4.67
$1.03RON 4.71
-0.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RON 4.49
$0.93RON 4.28
5.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95RON 4.34
$0.77RON 3.55
23.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40RON 29.33
$5.93RON 27.21
7.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.50RON 29.81
$7.82RON 35.86
-16.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24RON 5.68
$1.09RON 4.98
13.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93RON 8.86
$1.65RON 7.57
16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14RON 5.21
$0.68RON 3.11
67.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.82RON 90.9
$19.65RON 90.1
0.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RON 3.27
$0.71RON 3.24
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RON 2.99
$0.75RON 3.43
-13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.93RON 31.79
$7.02RON 32.20
-1.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66RON 7.59
$1.60RON 7.32
3.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KRON 132.8K
$27.8KRON 127.4K
4.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1KRON 137.9K
$28.0KRON 128.6K
7.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183RON 841
$166RON 762
10.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.95RON 41.05
$7.89RON 36.21
13.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.12RON 51.0
$8.88RON 40.70
25.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4RON 249
$41.64RON 191
30.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.49RON 135
$19.08RON 87.5
54.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.13RON 41.88
$11.10RON 50.9
-17.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$676RON 3,102
$449RON 2,061
50.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KRON 65.7K
$6,444RON 29.6K
122.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1RON 372
$67.4RON 309
20.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.42RON 204
$43.62RON 200
1.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.8RON 412
$97.5RON 447
-7.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108RON 496
$97.2RON 446
11.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$662RON 3,036
$396RON 1,815
67.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$441RON 2,021
$286RON 1,309
54.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,352RON 6,202
$591RON 2,710
128.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$849RON 3,892
$431RON 1,974
97.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,777RON 17.3K
$1,824RON 8,363
107.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,231RON 10.2K
$1,447RON 6,638
54.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,408RON 6,457
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
7.7
-7.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bucharest: July 12, 2026
Last update for Giurgiu: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $662 in Bucharest and $396 in Giurgiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Bucharest vs $51.0 in Giurgiu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $223 per month, with Giurgiu cheaper across the board.
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 Giurgiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and in Giurgiu?
Bucharest and Giurgiu differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,362 vs $1,126 including rent). Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu?
You'd need roughly $2,044 in Bucharest and $1,689 in Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu?
Rent for a central apartment: $662 in Bucharest versus $396 in Giurgiu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Giurgiu?
All in, you'll spend $1,362 per month in Bucharest versus $1,126 in Giurgiu – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Giurgiu?
A monthly transit pass in Giurgiu runs roughly 1% 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 $1,126 in Giurgiu versus $1,362 in Bucharest, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Giurgiu but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Giurgiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Giurgiu?
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 Giurgiu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Giurgiu 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 Giurgiu?
Expats usually find Giurgiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.