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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Bucharest versus $1,061 in Targu Mures.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,166 in Bucharest versus $1,549 in Targu Mures.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,000 in Bucharest versus $2,037 in Targu Mures.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 25% more expensive than Targu Mures, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bucharest 1% lower, Targu Mures 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.87 RON 63.0

$8.79 RON 39.91

57.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.0 RON 318

$40.85 RON 185

71.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 RON 37.37

$8.78 RON 39.86

-6.26%

Cappuccino

$3.45 RON 15.65

$2.28 RON 10.35

51.32%

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

$2.33 RON 10.58

$1.26 RON 5.72

84.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 RON 10.51

$1.15 RON 5.24

100.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.51 RON 15.94

$2.16 RON 9.81

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 RON 17.22

$2.72 RON 12.34

39.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.09

$1.60 RON 7.27

11.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.49

$1.21 RON 5.51

18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 RON 8.31

$1.59 RON 7.20

15.09%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 16.04

$2.98 RON 13.53

18.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.61 RON 43.62

$8.87 RON 40.26

8.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.92 RON 31.39

$6.91 RON 31.36

0.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 RON 55.7

$12.30 RON 55.9

-0.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.32

$0.97 RON 4.41

43.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.79

$1.32 RON 6.01

30.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 RON 7.95

$1.49 RON 6.74

17.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 RON 10.89

$1.91 RON 8.68

25.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RON 4.71

$0.87 RON 3.97

19.54%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.38

$0.89 RON 4.02

7.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 RON 4.47

$0.79 RON 3.58

24.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 RON 4.13

$0.81 RON 3.66

12.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.35 RON 28.83

$6.06 RON 27.52

4.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.62 RON 30.05

$7.80 RON 35.41

-15.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 RON 5.56

$1.04 RON 4.74

17.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 RON 9.11

$1.68 RON 7.62

19.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 RON 5.07

$0.59 RON 2.70

89.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.94 RON 90.5

$14.77 RON 67.1

35.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.20

$0.88 RON 4.01

-20.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 2.98

$0.71 RON 3.24

-7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 RON 30.85

$7.50 RON 34.06

-9.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.84

$1.52 RON 6.91

13.82%

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

$29.1K RON 132.0K

$27.5K RON 124.8K

5.79%

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

$30.4K RON 137.9K

$27.9K RON 126.8K

8.78%

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

$178 RON 807

$169 RON 766

5.42%

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

$9.16 RON 41.60

$8.60 RON 39.05

6.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 RON 50.9

$9.90 RON 44.96

13.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 RON 251

$46.97 RON 213

17.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.55 RON 134

$18.22 RON 82.7

62.18%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 RON 40.66

$5.67 RON 25.73

58.02%

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

$657 RON 2,984

$1,378 RON 6,254

-52.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K RON 66.0K

$6,946 RON 31.5K

109.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 RON 370

$72.2 RON 328

12.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.88 RON 208

$32.87 RON 149

39.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 RON 406

$72.3 RON 328

23.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 497

$81.8 RON 371

33.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$644 RON 2,925

$440 RON 1,996

46.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$444 RON 2,014

$312 RON 1,415

42.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 RON 6,095

$567 RON 2,576

136.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 RON 3,847

$399 RON 1,810

112.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,941 RON 17.9K

$2,355 RON 10.7K

67.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,248 RON 10.2K

$1,505 RON 6,830

49.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,425 RON 6,467

$1,066 RON 4,840

33.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

8.17

-13.10%

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

Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $644 in Bucharest and $440 in Targu Mures. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 34% 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 $41.00 in Targu Mures for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $214 per month, with Targu Mures 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 Targu Mures: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bucharest and Targu Mures differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,331 vs $1,061 including rent). Targu Mures is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bucharest pays 34% 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 $440 in Targu Mures. 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 $1,061 in Targu Mures – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Mures runs roughly 35% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,061 in Targu Mures versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Mures but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Mures 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 Targu Mures 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 Targu Mures gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.