Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Sfantu Gheorghe Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Sfantu Gheorghe

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Bucharest versus $918 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Bucharest versus $1,429 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Bucharest versus $1,940 in Sfantu Gheorghe.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 45% more expensive than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.87 RON 63.0

$8.45 RON 38.36

64.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 RON 318

$40.07 RON 182

74.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 RON 37.37

$9.12 RON 41.40

-9.76%

Cappuccino

$3.45 RON 15.65

$2.01 RON 9.12

71.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 RON 10.58

$1.27 RON 5.75

83.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 RON 10.51

$1.11 RON 5.03

108.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 RON 15.94

$2.13 RON 9.69

64.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 RON 17.22

$2.72 RON 12.35

39.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.09

$1.54 RON 7.01

15.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.49

$1.22 RON 5.52

17.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 RON 8.31

$1.35 RON 6.14

35.56%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 16.04

$3.05 RON 13.83

15.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 RON 43.62

$8.74 RON 39.70

9.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 RON 31.39

$4.11 RON 18.68

68.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 RON 55.7

$12.30 RON 55.9

-0.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.32

$0.98 RON 4.46

41.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.79

$1.31 RON 5.95

31.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 RON 7.95

$1.30 RON 5.91

34.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.89

$1.98 RON 9.01

21.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RON 4.71

$0.72 RON 3.29

44.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.38

$0.87 RON 3.95

10.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 RON 4.47

$0.79 RON 3.57

24.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.13

$0.67 RON 3.05

35.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.35 RON 28.83

$5.52 RON 25.05

15.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.62 RON 30.05

$8.46 RON 38.39

-21.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 RON 5.56

$1.05 RON 4.75

16.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 RON 9.11

$1.13 RON 5.13

77.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 RON 5.07

$0.67 RON 3.03

67.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.94 RON 90.5

$19.63 RON 89.1

1.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.20

$0.95 RON 4.29

-26.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 2.98

$0.67 RON 3.06

-1.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 RON 30.85

$7.51 RON 34.11

-9.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.84

$1.58 RON 7.19

9.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K RON 132.0K

$27.9K RON 126.9K

4.04%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K RON 137.9K

$28.0K RON 127.3K

8.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$178 RON 807

$168 RON 764

5.66%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.16 RON 41.60

$8.52 RON 38.69

7.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 RON 50.9

$9.63 RON 43.74

16.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 RON 251

$40.76 RON 185

35.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.55 RON 134

$18.87 RON 85.7

56.60%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 RON 40.66

$3.35 RON 15.21

167.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$657 RON 2,984

$431 RON 1,958

52.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K RON 66.0K

$6,922 RON 31.4K

110.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 RON 370

$34.47 RON 156

136.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.88 RON 208

$18.69 RON 84.9

145.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 RON 406

$27.87 RON 127

220.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 497

$69.8 RON 317

56.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 RON 2,925

$320 RON 1,451

101.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,014

$230 RON 1,042

93.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 RON 6,095

$565 RON 2,566

137.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 RON 3,847

$440 RON 1,999

92.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,941 RON 17.9K

$1,926 RON 8,744

104.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,248 RON 10.2K

$1,397 RON 6,340

60.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,425 RON 6,467

$724 RON 3,287

96.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

6.75

5.19%

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

Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Bucharest and $320 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 97% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Bucharest vs $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $196 per month, with Sfantu Gheorghe 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 Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bucharest and Sfantu Gheorghe differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $918 including rent). Sfantu Gheorghe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bucharest pays 97% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $644 in Bucharest versus $320 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,331 per month in Bucharest versus $918 in Sfantu Gheorghe – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sfantu Gheorghe runs roughly 2% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $918 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfantu Gheorghe but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Sfantu Gheorghe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Bucharest and Sfantu Gheorghe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sfantu Gheorghe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.