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: $1,316 in Bucharest versus $1,005 in Targoviste.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Bucharest versus $1,444 in Targoviste.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,949 in Bucharest versus $1,884 in Targoviste.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 31% more expensive than in Targoviste, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Targoviste 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.55 RON 61.9

$9.31 RON 42.52

45.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 RON 314

$27.52 RON 126

149.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 RON 35.75

$7.09 RON 32.36

10.44%

Cappuccino

$3.44 RON 15.72

$2.26 RON 10.30

52.21%

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

$2.29 RON 10.47

$1.57 RON 7.19

45.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 RON 11.07

$1.45 RON 6.62

66.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 RON 15.54

$2.27 RON 10.38

49.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 RON 17.76

$2.95 RON 13.49

31.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 RON 8.24

$1.55 RON 7.06

16.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.48

$0.95 RON 4.35

49.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 RON 8.49

$1.61 RON 7.36

15.53%

Eggs

$3.70 RON 16.88

$2.72 RON 12.44

36.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.40 RON 42.92

$3.39 RON 15.50

177.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 RON 32.86

$6.47 RON 29.55

11.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 RON 54.7

$9.77 RON 44.62

22.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.36

$1.28 RON 5.86

8.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.84

$1.73 RON 7.89

-0.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 RON 7.96

$1.52 RON 6.92

14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 RON 11.29

$1.81 RON 8.28

36.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 RON 4.57

$1.08 RON 4.93

-7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 RON 4.70

$1.14 RON 5.19

-9.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 RON 4.56

$0.82 RON 3.76

21.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 RON 4.26

$0.75 RON 3.43

24.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.37 RON 29.10

$5.95 RON 27.18

7.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.70 RON 30.58

$5.76 RON 26.30

16.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 RON 5.81

$1.29 RON 5.90

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 RON 9.16

$2.22 RON 10.14

-9.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 RON 5.41

$0.48 RON 2.20

145.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 RON 87.6

$19.55 RON 89.3

-1.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 RON 3.00

$0.80 RON 3.65

-17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 RON 2.82

$0.81 RON 3.68

-23.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.95 RON 31.73

$7.32 RON 33.43

-5.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 RON 7.83

$1.56 RON 7.12

10.26%

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

$28.2K RON 128.9K

$28.3K RON 129.4K

-0.39%

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

$30.1K RON 137.3K

$27.0K RON 123.2K

11.46%

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

$182 RON 832

$210 RON 958

-13.14%

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

$8.96 RON 40.89

$7.99 RON 36.47

12.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.24 RON 51.4

$9.11 RON 41.62

23.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 RON 245

$22.58 RON 103

137.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.04 RON 133

$19.50 RON 89.1

48.92%

Cinema Ticket

$9.00 RON 41.09

$3.39 RON 15.47

165.49%

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

$661 RON 3,018

$352 RON 1,607

87.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K RON 66.7K

$8,862 RON 40.5K

64.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.2 RON 371

$70.3 RON 321

15.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.34 RON 202

$34.15 RON 156

29.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 RON 412

$57.8 RON 264

56.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 RON 502

$82.1 RON 375

33.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$661 RON 3,018

$370 RON 1,691

78.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$443 RON 2,023

$287 RON 1,310

54.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,328 RON 6,065

$471 RON 2,149

182.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 RON 3,789

$435 RON 1,985

90.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,866 RON 17.7K

$1,971 RON 9,001

96.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,178 RON 9,946

$1,412 RON 6,449

54.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,432 RON 6,540

$916 RON 4,182

56.40%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Targoviste: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $661 in Bucharest and $370 in Targoviste. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 56% 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: $69.0 in Bucharest vs $28.00 in Targoviste for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $186 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 31% in total monthly costs ($1,316 vs $1,005 including rent). Targoviste is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 56% higher in Bucharest, 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: $661 in Bucharest versus $370 in Targoviste. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,316 per month in Bucharest versus $1,005 in Targoviste – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,005 in Targoviste versus $1,316 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 31% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.