Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Targoviste Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Targoviste

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Bucharest versus $1,032 in Targoviste.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Bucharest versus $1,479 in Targoviste.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Bucharest versus $1,927 in Targoviste.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 29% more expensive than Targoviste, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Targoviste 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.87 RON 62.7

$9.17 RON 41.46

51.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 RON 317

$27.87 RON 126

151.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 RON 37.24

$6.96 RON 31.47

18.25%

Cappuccino

$3.45 RON 15.60

$2.36 RON 10.68

46.19%

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

$2.33 RON 10.54

$1.52 RON 6.87

53.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 RON 10.47

$1.39 RON 6.29

66.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 RON 15.89

$2.32 RON 10.49

51.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 RON 17.16

$3.04 RON 13.75

24.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.06

$1.55 RON 7.02

14.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.47

$0.94 RON 4.26

52.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 RON 8.28

$1.62 RON 7.32

12.96%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 15.98

$2.81 RON 12.71

25.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 RON 43.47

$3.55 RON 16.07

170.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 RON 31.28

$6.58 RON 29.77

5.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 RON 55.5

$9.67 RON 43.73

26.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.29

$1.28 RON 5.79

8.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.76

$1.65 RON 7.45

4.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 RON 7.92

$1.53 RON 6.91

14.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.85

$1.83 RON 8.27

31.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RON 4.69

$1.03 RON 4.67

0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.36

$1.12 RON 5.09

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 RON 4.46

$0.79 RON 3.56

24.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.12

$0.80 RON 3.61

13.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.35 RON 28.73

$6.13 RON 27.72

3.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.62 RON 29.94

$5.66 RON 25.59

16.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 RON 5.54

$1.30 RON 5.88

-6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 RON 9.08

$2.26 RON 10.21

-11.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 RON 5.05

$0.48 RON 2.17

133.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.94 RON 90.2

$20.01 RON 90.5

-0.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.18

$0.77 RON 3.50

-9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 2.97

$0.76 RON 3.45

-13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 RON 30.74

$7.21 RON 32.60

-5.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.81

$1.54 RON 6.98

12.34%

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

$29.1K RON 131.5K

$28.3K RON 128.0K

2.72%

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

$30.4K RON 137.4K

$27.7K RON 125.1K

9.84%

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

$178 RON 804

$210 RON 949

-15.23%

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

$9.16 RON 41.45

$8.08 RON 36.53

13.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 RON 50.7

$9.01 RON 40.75

24.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 RON 250

$22.59 RON 102

144.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.55 RON 134

$18.94 RON 85.7

56.02%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 RON 40.51

$3.52 RON 15.92

154.55%

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

$657 RON 2,973

$339 RON 1,535

93.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K RON 65.8K

$8,974 RON 40.6K

62.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 RON 368

$68.3 RON 309

19.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.88 RON 208

$34.79 RON 157

31.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 RON 405

$56.6 RON 256

58.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 495

$79.4 RON 359

37.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 RON 2,914

$374 RON 1,694

72.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,007

$286 RON 1,295

54.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 RON 6,074

$483 RON 2,183

178.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 RON 3,833

$431 RON 1,948

96.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,941 RON 17.8K

$1,933 RON 8,742

103.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,248 RON 10.2K

$1,385 RON 6,263

62.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,425 RON 6,444

$930 RON 4,209

53.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

6.28

13.06%

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

Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Bucharest and $374 in Targoviste. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 53% 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 $28.00 in Targoviste for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $187 per month, with Targoviste 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 Targoviste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bucharest and Targoviste differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $1,032 including rent). Targoviste is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bucharest pays 53% 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 $374 in Targoviste. 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 $1,032 in Targoviste – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targoviste runs roughly 0% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,032 in Targoviste versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Targoviste but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Targoviste 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 Targoviste 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 Targoviste gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.