Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Łomianki

For one person, living is cheaper in Bucharest: $1,340 a month against $1,474 in Łomianki, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,340
/mo nomad
Łomianki
🇵🇱 Poland
$1,474
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bucharest and in Łomianki

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 Łomianki actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,340 in Bucharest versus $1,474 in Łomianki.

  • Bucharest $1,340
  • Łomianki $1,474

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Bucharest versus $2,235 in Łomianki.

  • Bucharest $2,037
  • Łomianki $2,235

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,734 in Bucharest versus $2,997 in Łomianki.

  • Bucharest $2,734
  • Łomianki $2,997

Living in Bucharest costs roughly 9% less than in Łomianki, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 1% below, Łomianki is 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.49 RON 68.6
$11.67 zł 45.33
24.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 RON 275
$50.2 zł 195
15.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 RON 35.40
$8.82 zł 34.27
-15.19%
Cappuccino
$3.44 RON 16.29
$3.27 zł 12.70
5.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 RON 11.22
$2.25 zł 8.73
5.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 RON 10.88
$1.97 zł 7.64
16.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 RON 17.51
$3.13 zł 12.18
18.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 RON 19.69
$3.93 zł 15.26
5.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.90
$1.06 zł 4.10
57.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 RON 6.50
$1.27 zł 4.93
7.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 RON 8.14
$1.37 zł 5.33
25.55%
Eggs
$3.64 RON 17.22
$3.80 zł 14.78
-4.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 RON 42.98
$8.92 zł 34.66
1.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 RON 32.35
$7.33 zł 28.46
-6.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.00 RON 56.8
$14.79 zł 57.5
-18.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.80
$1.22 zł 4.74
0.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.73
$1.69 zł 6.56
-3.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.45
$1.68 zł 6.51
-6.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 RON 12.01
$4.05 zł 15.73
-37.28%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.75
$0.89 zł 3.47
-11.24%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.66
$0.86 zł 3.35
-10.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 RON 4.13
$1.29 zł 5.02
-32.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 RON 4.70
$0.64 zł 2.50
54.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 RON 29.86
$5.76 zł 22.39
9.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 RON 29.34
$6.20 zł 24.09
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.63
$1.08 zł 4.19
10.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.45
$1.50 zł 5.83
4.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 RON 4.08
$1.03 zł 4.02
-16.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.10 RON 99.8
$27.05 zł 105
-22.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 RON 3.05
$2.08 zł 8.10
-69.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.86
$0.75 zł 2.91
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 RON 30.43
$10.05 zł 39.03
-36.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 RON 9.25
$1.58 zł 6.13
24.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K RON 137.2K
$31.0K zł 120.4K
-6.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K RON 126.0K
$28.5K zł 110.8K
-6.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 RON 927
$330 zł 1,283
-40.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04 RON 38.04
$8.88 zł 34.50
-9.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.35 RON 44.21
$15.99 zł 62.1
-41.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 RON 238
$38.89 zł 151
29.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.33 RON 120
$19.29 zł 75.0
31.31%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 RON 38.55
$8.89 zł 34.55
-8.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 RON 2,971
$385 zł 1,497
63.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K RON 66.6K
$14.1K zł 55.0K
-0.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.6 RON 424
$100 zł 389
-10.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 RON 181
$40.01 zł 155
-4.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 RON 375
$104 zł 403
-23.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 RON 428
$103 zł 402
-12.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$678 RON 3,209
$607 zł 2,357
11.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 RON 2,121
$436 zł 1,695
2.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 RON 5,125
$901 zł 3,500
20.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$725 RON 3,430
$875 zł 3,398
-17.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 RON 17.7K
$3,242 zł 12.6K
15.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,195 RON 10.4K
$2,386 zł 9,270
-8.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Łomianki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,329 RON 6,290
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.68
1.05%

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

Last update for Bucharest: October 12, 2026

Last update for Łomianki: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
$448
Łomianki
$436 2.7% $12
Eating Out
Bucharest
$225
Łomianki
$199 11.4% $26
Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
$225
Łomianki
$233 3.5% $7.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
$213
Łomianki
$355 66.5% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
$134
Łomianki
$156 16.7% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
$67
Łomianki
$57 14.8% $9.9
Getting Around
Bucharest
$28
Łomianki
$37 31.2% $8.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $678 in Bucharest and $607 in Łomianki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Bucharest vs $50.0 in Łomianki. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $233, with Bucharest cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🇵🇱 Łomianki
🕒 Local time
05:41 5:41 AM
04:41 4:41 AM
1 h behind Bucharest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,883,425 Capital
17,114
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PLN, USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Polish Złoty exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3.89 PLN (1 PLN = 0.257 USD). 1 EUR = 4.37 PLN (1 PLN = 0.229 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bucharest Łomianki 960 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bucharest
  • Łomianki

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 Łomianki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and in Łomianki?
Bucharest and Łomianki differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,340 vs $1,474 including rent). Bucharest 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 Łomianki?
You'd need roughly $2,011 in Bucharest and $2,210 in Łomianki 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 Łomianki?
Rent for a central apartment: $678 in Bucharest versus $607 in Łomianki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Łomianki?
All in, you'll spend $1,340 per month in Bucharest versus $1,474 in Łomianki – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Łomianki?
A monthly transit pass in Bucharest runs roughly 28% less than in Łomianki. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,340 in Bucharest versus $1,474 in Łomianki, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bucharest but tight or insufficient in Łomianki. The gap between the two cities makes Bucharest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Łomianki?
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 Łomianki safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Łomianki 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 Łomianki?
Expats usually find Bucharest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Łomianki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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