😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,336 in Bucharest versus $1,118 in Giurgiu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,162 in Bucharest versus $1,722 in Giurgiu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,988 in Bucharest versus $2,325 in Giurgiu.
😐Living in Bucharest is roughly 19% more expensive than Giurgiu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 0% above, Giurgiu is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.58RON 61.4
$12.28RON 55.5
10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1RON 308
$51.6RON 233
31.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05RON 36.38
$8.04RON 36.33
0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.40RON 15.36
$3.45RON 15.60
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32RON 10.50
$2.01RON 9.08
15.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38RON 10.74
$2.07RON 9.34
14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54RON 15.99
$3.27RON 14.80
8.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01RON 18.14
$3.55RON 16.06
12.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74RON 7.88
$1.48RON 6.68
17.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42RON 6.42
$1.29RON 5.83
10.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.93RON 8.73
$1.82RON 8.23
6.04%
Eggs
$3.54RON 15.99
$3.23RON 14.62
9.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.27RON 41.90
$8.64RON 39.06
7.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.13RON 32.21
$6.80RON 30.73
4.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.28RON 55.5
$11.91RON 53.8
3.11%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35RON 6.11
$1.19RON 5.38
13.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74RON 7.86
$1.70RON 7.70
2.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76RON 7.98
$1.56RON 7.05
12.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40RON 10.83
$2.39RON 10.82
0.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05RON 4.72
$0.95RON 4.31
10.53%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96RON 4.35
$1.07RON 4.84
-10.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92RON 4.15
$0.87RON 3.95
5.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 4.09
$0.84RON 3.79
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.38RON 28.82
$5.73RON 25.90
11.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.45RON 29.16
$8.72RON 39.42
-26.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22RON 5.51
$1.10RON 4.97
10.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98RON 8.95
$1.72RON 7.75
15.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16RON 5.27
$0.67RON 3.04
73.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.48RON 88.0
$20.01RON 90.5
-2.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.25
$0.76RON 3.45
-5.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62RON 2.79
$0.69RON 3.11
-10.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.94RON 31.35
$6.88RON 31.09
0.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71RON 7.75
$1.59RON 7.19
7.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0KRON 131.0K
$27.5KRON 124.3K
5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3KRON 137.0K
$28.0KRON 126.7K
8.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178RON 803
$164RON 740
8.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.16RON 41.40
$7.88RON 35.62
16.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.12RON 50.3
$8.82RON 39.85
26.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7RON 247
$41.38RON 187
32.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04RON 131
$18.84RON 85.2
54.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27RON 41.92
$11.10RON 50.2
-16.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677RON 3,060
$457RON 2,064
48.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9KRON 67.2K
$6,443RON 29.1K
130.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8RON 361
$68.1RON 308
17.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29RON 205
$42.17RON 191
7.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2RON 403
$96.6RON 437
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109RON 493
$97.6RON 441
11.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$662RON 2,992
$387RON 1,748
71.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432RON 1,953
$291RON 1,316
48.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,355RON 6,126
$596RON 2,692
127.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841RON 3,802
$434RON 1,960
93.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,857RON 17.4K
$1,835RON 8,293
110.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,305RON 10.4K
$1,372RON 6,203
67.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,463RON 6,615
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Giurgiu: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $662 in Bucharest and $387 in Giurgiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Bucharest vs $52.0 in Giurgiu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 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 Giurgiu?
Bucharest and Giurgiu differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,336 vs $1,118 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 $2,004 in Bucharest and $1,678 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 Giurgiu?
Rent for a central apartment: $662 in Bucharest versus $387 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 $1,336 per month in Bucharest versus $1,118 in Giurgiu – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and Giurgiu?
A monthly transit pass in Giurgiu runs roughly 3% 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 $1,118 in Giurgiu versus $1,336 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 19% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.