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: $1,336 in Bucharest versus $1,027 in Targu Jiu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,162 in Bucharest versus $1,641 in Targu Jiu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,988 in Bucharest versus $2,255 in Targu Jiu.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 30% more expensive than Targu Jiu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 0% above, Targu Jiu is 23% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.58 RON 61.8

$13.95 RON 63.4

-2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.1 RON 310

0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 RON 36.58

$8.01 RON 36.41

0.50%

Cappuccino

$3.40 RON 15.45

$3.35 RON 15.25

1.49%

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

$2.32 RON 10.56

$1.13 RON 5.13

105.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 RON 10.80

$2.40 RON 10.91

-0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 RON 16.08

$3.53 RON 16.02

0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 RON 18.24

$3.86 RON 17.56

3.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 RON 7.92

$1.73 RON 7.89

0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.45

$1.37 RON 6.24

3.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 RON 8.77

$1.91 RON 8.70

1.05%

Eggs

$3.54 RON 16.08

$3.01 RON 13.67

17.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.27 RON 42.13

$7.93 RON 36.03

16.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.13 RON 32.39

$3.17 RON 14.42

124.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 RON 55.8

$7.98 RON 36.28

53.88%

Apples (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.15

$1.01 RON 4.60

33.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 RON 7.90

$1.64 RON 7.44

6.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 RON 8.02

$1.26 RON 5.72

39.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.89

$1.34 RON 6.11

79.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 RON 4.75

$0.88 RON 4.00

19.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.37

$1.01 RON 4.60

-4.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 RON 4.17

$0.67 RON 3.05

37.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.12

$0.59 RON 2.69

54.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.38 RON 28.98

$5.60 RON 25.48

13.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 RON 29.32

$3.03 RON 13.76

112.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 RON 5.54

$0.95 RON 4.31

28.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 RON 9.00

$1.13 RON 5.15

75.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 RON 5.30

$0.67 RON 3.05

73.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.48 RON 88.5

$20.17 RON 91.7

-3.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 RON 3.27

$0.72 RON 3.29

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 RON 2.81

$0.61 RON 2.79

1.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.94 RON 31.53

$6.85 RON 31.12

1.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.71 RON 7.79

$1.68 RON 7.65

1.79%

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

$29.0K RON 131.7K

$28.8K RON 131.1K

0.45%

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

$30.3K RON 137.7K

$30.8K RON 139.9K

-1.55%

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

$178 RON 808

$179 RON 813

-0.63%

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

$9.16 RON 41.63

$6.43 RON 29.24

42.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.12 RON 50.5

$10.49 RON 47.70

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 RON 248

$41.16 RON 187

32.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.04 RON 132

$19.45 RON 88.4

49.31%

Cinema Ticket

$9.27 RON 42.15

$9.29 RON 42.21

-0.22%

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

$677 RON 3,077

$656 RON 2,982

3.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K RON 67.5K

$14.6K RON 66.2K

1.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.8 RON 363

$55.5 RON 252

43.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.29 RON 206

$28.14 RON 128

60.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 RON 405

$57.0 RON 259

56.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 496

$91.8 RON 417

18.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$662 RON 3,009

$374 RON 1,702

76.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,964

$256 RON 1,164

68.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,355 RON 6,161

$522 RON 2,374

159.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$841 RON 3,823

$432 RON 1,966

94.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,857 RON 17.5K

$2,632 RON 12.0K

46.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 RON 10.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,463 RON 6,652

$544 RON 2,474

168.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

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

Last update for Bucharest: May 31, 2026

Last update for Targu Jiu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $662 in Bucharest and $374 in Targu Jiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 169% 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: $68.0 in Bucharest vs $68.0 in Targu Jiu. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $168, 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 30% in total monthly costs ($1,336 vs $1,027 including rent). Targu Jiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bucharest pays 169% 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: $662 in Bucharest versus $374 in Targu Jiu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,336 per month in Bucharest versus $1,027 in Targu Jiu – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Jiu runs roughly 4% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,027 in Targu Jiu versus $1,336 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 30% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.