Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Giurgiu Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Giurgiu

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$13.58 RON 61.4
$12.28 RON 55.5
10.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 RON 308
$51.6 RON 233
31.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.05 RON 36.38
$8.04 RON 36.33
0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.40 RON 15.36
$3.45 RON 15.60
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 RON 10.50
$2.01 RON 9.08
15.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 RON 10.74
$2.07 RON 9.34
14.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 RON 15.99
$3.27 RON 14.80
8.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 RON 18.14
$3.55 RON 16.06
12.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 RON 7.88
$1.48 RON 6.68
17.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 RON 6.42
$1.29 RON 5.83
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 RON 8.73
$1.82 RON 8.23
6.04%
Eggs
$3.54 RON 15.99
$3.23 RON 14.62
9.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.27 RON 41.90
$8.64 RON 39.06
7.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.13 RON 32.21
$6.80 RON 30.73
4.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.28 RON 55.5
$11.91 RON 53.8
3.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.35 RON 6.11
$1.19 RON 5.38
13.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 RON 7.86
$1.70 RON 7.70
2.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 RON 7.98
$1.56 RON 7.05
12.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 RON 10.83
$2.39 RON 10.82
0.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.05 RON 4.72
$0.95 RON 4.31
10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.35
$1.07 RON 4.84
-10.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 RON 4.15
$0.87 RON 3.95
5.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 RON 4.09
$0.84 RON 3.79
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.38 RON 28.82
$5.73 RON 25.90
11.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.45 RON 29.16
$8.72 RON 39.42
-26.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 RON 5.51
$1.10 RON 4.97
10.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 RON 8.95
$1.72 RON 7.75
15.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 RON 5.27
$0.67 RON 3.04
73.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.48 RON 88.0
$20.01 RON 90.5
-2.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 RON 3.25
$0.76 RON 3.45
-5.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 RON 2.79
$0.69 RON 3.11
-10.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.94 RON 31.35
$6.88 RON 31.09
0.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.71 RON 7.75
$1.59 RON 7.19
7.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K RON 131.0K
$27.5K RON 124.3K
5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K RON 137.0K
$28.0K RON 126.7K
8.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 RON 803
$164 RON 740
8.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.16 RON 41.40
$7.88 RON 35.62
16.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.12 RON 50.3
$8.82 RON 39.85
26.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 RON 247
$41.38 RON 187
32.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.04 RON 131
$18.84 RON 85.2
54.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27 RON 41.92
$11.10 RON 50.2
-16.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$677 RON 3,060
$457 RON 2,064
48.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K RON 67.2K
$6,443 RON 29.1K
130.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8 RON 361
$68.1 RON 308
17.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29 RON 205
$42.17 RON 191
7.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 RON 403
$96.6 RON 437
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 RON 493
$97.6 RON 441
11.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$662 RON 2,992
$387 RON 1,748
71.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$432 RON 1,953
$291 RON 1,316
48.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,355 RON 6,126
$596 RON 2,692
127.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$841 RON 3,802
$434 RON 1,960
93.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,857 RON 17.4K
$1,835 RON 8,293
110.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,305 RON 10.4K
$1,372 RON 6,203
67.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Giurgiu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,463 RON 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.

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