Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Targu Jiu Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Targu Jiu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,434 in Bucharest versus $1,036 in Targu Jiu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,168 in Bucharest versus $1,614 in Targu Jiu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,901 in Bucharest versus $2,192 in Targu Jiu.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 38% more expensive than in Targu Jiu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 4% above, Targu Jiu is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.25 RON 64.6

$14.26 RON 64.6

-0.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 RON 274

$61.6 RON 279

-1.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 RON 34.09

$7.54 RON 34.15

-0.13%

Cappuccino

$3.72 RON 16.85

$3.58 RON 16.23

3.91%

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

$2.41 RON 10.92

$1.13 RON 5.12

113.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 RON 10.29

$2.36 RON 10.70

-3.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.09 RON 18.51

$3.87 RON 17.53

5.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 RON 19.58

$4.55 RON 20.61

-5.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.06

$1.80 RON 8.13

-1.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 RON 6.65

$1.42 RON 6.41

3.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 RON 8.20

$1.72 RON 7.80

5.23%

Eggs

$3.82 RON 17.29

$2.88 RON 13.02

32.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 RON 42.97

$7.96 RON 36.06

19.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.95 RON 31.48

$3.06 RON 13.88

127.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.58 RON 57.0

$7.58 RON 34.33

65.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 RON 6.01

$0.99 RON 4.47

34.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 RON 7.45

$1.59 RON 7.20

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 RON 7.28

$1.21 RON 5.48

33.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RON 12.18

$1.30 RON 5.90

106.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 RON 3.99

$0.82 RON 3.71

7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.44

$0.76 RON 3.43

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.91

$0.68 RON 3.09

26.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 RON 4.44

$0.54 RON 2.43

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.92 RON 31.34

$5.44 RON 24.65

27.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.77 RON 30.66

$3.09 RON 13.98

119.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.83

$0.86 RON 3.89

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 RON 7.84

$1.12 RON 5.09

54.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 RON 3.84

$0.82 RON 3.70

3.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.35 RON 101

$20.14 RON 91.2

10.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 RON 2.94

$0.67 RON 3.04

-2.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.11

$0.69 RON 3.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.84 RON 30.96

$6.70 RON 30.34

2.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 RON 9.21

$1.58 RON 7.14

28.48%

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

$29.4K RON 133.2K

$30.1K RON 136.5K

-2.37%

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

$27.6K RON 124.8K

$28.4K RON 128.4K

-2.82%

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

$198 RON 896

$201 RON 909

-1.37%

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

$8.71 RON 39.47

$6.28 RON 28.43

38.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.07 RON 45.61

$9.92 RON 44.92

1.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 RON 248

$39.76 RON 180

37.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.74 RON 117

$19.70 RON 89.2

30.66%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 RON 39.58

$8.83 RON 39.98

-1.02%

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

$648 RON 2,934

-0.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K RON 68.7K

$7,186 RON 32.5K

111.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.7 RON 433

$53.4 RON 242

79.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.35 RON 183

$26.35 RON 119

53.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 RON 368

$54.3 RON 246

49.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 RON 458

$87.3 RON 395

15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 RON 3,181

$360 RON 1,630

95.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 RON 2,205

$250 RON 1,131

94.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 RON 5,179

$500 RON 2,267

128.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 RON 3,416

$417 RON 1,888

80.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 RON 18.3K

$1,916 RON 8,679

110.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 RON 10.6K

$1,268 RON 5,741

83.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,535 RON 6,953

$555 RON 2,515

176.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

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

Last update for Bucharest: September 6, 2026

Last update for Targu Jiu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $702 in Bucharest and $360 in Targu Jiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 177% 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: $60.0 in Bucharest vs $62.0 in Targu Jiu. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $164, with Targu Jiu cheaper for home cooking.

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 Targu Jiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bucharest and Targu Jiu differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,434 vs $1,036 including rent). Targu Jiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 177% 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: $702 in Bucharest versus $360 in Targu Jiu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,434 per month in Bucharest versus $1,036 in Targu Jiu – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Jiu runs roughly 11% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,036 in Targu Jiu versus $1,434 in Bucharest, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Jiu but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Jiu 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.

Expats usually find Targu Jiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.