Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Siliguri

For one person, living is cheaper in Siliguri: $304 a month against $1,340 in Bucharest, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,340
/mo nomad
Siliguri
🇮🇳 India
$304
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bucharest and in Siliguri

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,340 in Bucharest versus $304 in Siliguri.

  • Bucharest $1,340
  • Siliguri $304

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Bucharest versus $502 in Siliguri.

  • Bucharest $2,037
  • Siliguri $502

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,734 in Bucharest versus $700 in Siliguri.

  • Bucharest $2,734
  • Siliguri $700

Living in Bucharest is roughly 342% more expensive than in Siliguri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Siliguri 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.49 RON 68.6
$1.88 ₹178
670.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 RON 275
$14.25 ₹1,353
307.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 RON 35.40
$6.33 ₹601
18.17%
Cappuccino
$3.44 RON 16.29
$1.42 ₹134
142.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 RON 11.22
$0.38 ₹36.22
523.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 RON 10.88
$0.17 ₹15.68
1252.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.70 RON 17.51
$1.37 ₹130
170.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 RON 19.69
$2.08 ₹197
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 RON 7.90
$0.54 ₹51.7
209.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.37 RON 6.50
$0.29 ₹27.82
372.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 RON 8.14
$0.50 ₹47.87
244.00%
Eggs
$3.64 RON 17.22
$0.79 ₹75.5
360.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.08 RON 42.98
$4.58 ₹435
98.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.84 RON 32.35
$2.15 ₹204
218.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.00 RON 56.8
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.80
$1.68 ₹160
-26.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 RON 7.73
$0.63 ₹59.5
158.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.45
$0.95 ₹89.9
65.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 RON 12.01
$0.36 ₹34.33
605.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.75
$0.21 ₹19.85
276.19%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 RON 3.66
$0.36 ₹33.91
113.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 RON 4.13
$0.36 ₹34.19
141.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 RON 4.70
$0.31 ₹29.66
219.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.31 RON 29.86
$3.60 ₹342
75.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.20 RON 29.34
$4.21 ₹400
47.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 RON 5.63
$1.34 ₹127
-11.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 RON 7.45
$3.17 ₹301
-50.47%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$7.11 ₹676
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 RON 4.08
$0.22 ₹20.94
290.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.10 RON 99.8
$7.77 ₹738
171.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 RON 3.05
$1.06 ₹101
-39.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.86
$0.10 ₹9.08
500.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 RON 30.43
$1.61 ₹152
299.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 RON 9.25
$1.12 ₹106
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K RON 137.2K
$12.4K ₹1.2M
133.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K RON 126.0K
$19.3K ₹1.8M
38.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 RON 927
$34.94 ₹3,318
460.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.04 RON 38.04
$2.85 ₹271
182.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.35 RON 44.21
$6.31 ₹599
48.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 RON 238
$5.81 ₹551
764.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.33 RON 120
$5.35 ₹508
373.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15 RON 38.55
$3.07 ₹291
165.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$628 RON 2,971
$28.50 ₹2,706
2103.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K RON 66.6K
$1,646 ₹156.3K
755.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.6 RON 424
$23.03 ₹2,187
289.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 RON 181
$14.36 ₹1,364
166.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 RON 375
$32.23 ₹3,061
145.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.4 RON 428
$29.31 ₹2,784
208.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$678 RON 3,209
$134 ₹12.7K
406.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 RON 2,121
$44.79 ₹4,254
900.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,083 RON 5,125
$328 ₹31.2K
229.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$725 RON 3,430
$128 ₹12.1K
466.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,751 RON 17.7K
$741 ₹70.4K
406.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,195 RON 10.4K
$415 ₹39.5K
428.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Siliguri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,329 RON 6,290
$373 ₹35.4K
256.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
10.03
-32.70%

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

Last update for Bucharest: October 12, 2026

Last update for Siliguri: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
$448
Siliguri
$45 90% $404
Eating Out
Bucharest
$225
Siliguri
$64 71.5% $161
Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
$225
Siliguri
$84 62.7% $141
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
$213
Siliguri
$44 79.3% $169
Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
$134
Siliguri
$45 66.8% $89
Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
$67
Siliguri
$12 82.1% $55
Getting Around
Bucharest
$28
Siliguri
$10 63.9% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $678 in Bucharest and $134 in Siliguri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 257% 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: $58.0 in Bucharest vs $14.00 in Siliguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $84.0 per month, with Siliguri cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🇮🇳 Siliguri
🕒 Local time
19:04 7:04 PM
21:34 9:34 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Bucharest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,883,425 Capital
1,572,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bucharest Siliguri 5,820 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bucharest
  • Siliguri

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 Siliguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and in Siliguri?
Bucharest and Siliguri differ by about 342% in total monthly costs ($1,340 vs $304 including rent). Siliguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bucharest or Siliguri?
Average pay runs 257% higher in Bucharest, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bucharest and in Siliguri?
Rent for a central apartment: $678 in Bucharest versus $134 in Siliguri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Siliguri?
All in, you'll spend $1,340 per month in Bucharest versus $304 in Siliguri – a 342% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Siliguri?
A monthly transit pass in Siliguri runs roughly 172% 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 $304 in Siliguri versus $1,340 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Siliguri but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Siliguri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Siliguri?
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.
Where should expats move: Bucharest or Siliguri?
Expats usually find Siliguri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 342% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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