๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Bucharest versus $1,037 in Rรขศnov.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Bucharest versus $1,576 in Rรขศnov.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Bucharest versus $2,114 in Rรขศnov.
๐Living in Bucharest is roughly 28% more expensive than Rรขศnov, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest1% lower, Rรขศnov23% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.87RONย 62.7
$8.57RONย 38.76
61.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.0RONย 317
$40.40RONย 183
73.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23RONย 37.24
$8.05RONย 36.40
2.24%
Cappuccino
$3.45RONย 15.60
$2.31RONย 10.46
49.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33RONย 10.54
$1.33RONย 6.00
75.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31RONย 10.47
$1.15RONย 5.22
100.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51RONย 15.89
$2.16RONย 9.76
62.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79RONย 17.16
$2.83RONย 12.80
33.92%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78RONย 8.06
$1.52RONย 6.88
17.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43RONย 6.47
$1.17RONย 5.31
22.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83RONย 8.28
$1.57RONย 7.10
16.56%
Eggs
$3.53RONย 15.98
$3.02RONย 13.65
16.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.61RONย 43.47
$8.47RONย 38.33
13.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.92RONย 31.28
$6.98RONย 31.59
-0.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.27RONย 55.5
$11.85RONย 53.6
3.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39RONย 6.29
$1.01RONย 4.57
37.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72RONย 7.76
$1.36RONย 6.16
26.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75RONย 7.92
$1.52RONย 6.89
15.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.40RONย 10.85
$1.95RONย 8.80
23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04RONย 4.69
$0.90RONย 4.07
15.56%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96RONย 4.36
$0.92RONย 4.15
4.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98RONย 4.46
$0.76RONย 3.42
28.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RONย 4.12
$0.80RONย 3.63
13.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35RONย 28.73
$6.04RONย 27.31
5.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.62RONย 29.94
$7.50RONย 33.93
-11.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22RONย 5.54
$1.07RONย 4.85
14.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01RONย 9.08
$1.69RONย 7.63
18.93%
๐ Getting Around
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12RONย 5.05
$0.67RONย 3.05
67.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.94RONย 90.2
$19.81RONย 89.6
0.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70RONย 3.18
$0.71RONย 3.20
-1.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RONย 2.97
$0.61RONย 2.75
8.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.79RONย 30.74
$6.80RONย 30.75
-0.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73RONย 7.81
$1.63RONย 7.36
6.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KRONย 131.5K
$27.7KRONย 125.2K
5.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KRONย 137.4K
$27.6KRONย 124.7K
10.21%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178RONย 804
$168RONย 758
6.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.16RONย 41.45
$8.27RONย 37.39
10.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.22RONย 50.7
$9.12RONย 41.24
23.03%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2RONย 250
$41.59RONย 188
32.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.55RONย 134
$19.03RONย 86.1
55.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.96RONย 40.51
$5.90RONย 26.68
51.86%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$657RONย 2,973
$445RONย 2,013
47.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5KRONย 65.8K
$6,566RONย 29.7K
121.40%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4RONย 368
$72.5RONย 328
12.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.88RONย 208
$42.20RONย 191
8.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.4RONย 405
$97.0RONย 439
-7.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109RONย 495
$79.1RONย 358
38.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$644RONย 2,914
$392RONย 1,773
64.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$444RONย 2,007
$286RONย 1,294
55.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,343RONย 6,074
$595RONย 2,693
125.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$847RONย 3,833
$441RONย 1,994
92.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,941RONย 17.8K
$1,938RONย 8,766
103.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,248RONย 10.2K
$1,395RONย 6,309
61.18%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Rรขศnov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,425RONย 6,444
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
7.7
-7.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026
Last update for Rรขศnov: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Bucharest and $392 in Rรขศnov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $70.0 in Bucharest vs $40.00 in Rรขศnov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $211 per month, with Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and Rรขศnov?
Bucharest and Rรขศnov differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $1,037 including rent). Rรขศnov is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bucharest compared to Rรขศnov?
You'd need roughly $1,997 in Bucharest and $1,555 in Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov?
Rent for a central apartment: $644 in Bucharest versus $392 in Rรขศnov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Rรขศnov?
All in, you'll spend $1,331 per month in Bucharest versus $1,037 in Rรขศnov โ a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and Rรขศnov?
A monthly transit pass in Rรขศnov 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,037 in Rรขศnov versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rรขศnov but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Rรขศnov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Rรขศnov?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bucharest or Rรขศnov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov?
Expats usually find Rรขศnov gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 28% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.