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: $1,434 in Bucharest versus $993 in Targu Mures.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,168 in Bucharest versus $1,532 in Targu Mures.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,901 in Bucharest versus $2,071 in Targu Mures.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 44% more expensive than in Targu Mures, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 4% above, Targu Mures is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.25 RON 64.4

$9.12 RON 41.16

56.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.5 RON 273

$45.14 RON 204

34.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 RON 33.98

$8.66 RON 39.09

-13.05%

Cappuccino

$3.72 RON 16.80

$2.40 RON 10.83

55.00%

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

$2.41 RON 10.89

$1.58 RON 7.15

52.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 RON 10.26

$1.29 RON 5.83

75.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.09 RON 18.45

$1.95 RON 8.81

109.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 RON 19.52

$2.49 RON 11.24

73.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.04

$1.42 RON 6.41

25.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 RON 6.63

$1.12 RON 5.04

31.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 RON 8.17

$1.53 RON 6.93

18.30%

Eggs

$3.82 RON 17.24

$2.99 RON 13.49

27.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 RON 42.84

$8.50 RON 38.36

11.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.95 RON 31.38

$6.24 RON 28.18

11.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.58 RON 56.8

$10.62 RON 47.96

18.46%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 RON 5.99

$1.03 RON 4.65

29.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 RON 7.43

$1.34 RON 6.03

23.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 RON 7.26

$1.46 RON 6.61

10.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RON 12.15

$1.90 RON 8.57

41.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 RON 3.97

$0.76 RON 3.42

15.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.43

$0.56 RON 2.54

35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 RON 3.90

$0.86 RON 3.89

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 RON 4.43

$0.75 RON 3.39

30.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.92 RON 31.24

$6.22 RON 28.10

11.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.77 RON 30.56

$7.95 RON 35.88

-14.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 RON 5.82

$1.12 RON 5.06

15.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 RON 7.82

$1.64 RON 7.42

5.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 RON 3.83

$0.64 RON 2.88

32.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.35 RON 101

$27.06 RON 122

-17.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 RON 2.93

$0.90 RON 4.07

-27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.10

$0.91 RON 4.10

-24.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.84 RON 30.86

$8.08 RON 36.46

-15.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.03 RON 9.18

$1.87 RON 8.43

8.56%

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

$29.4K RON 132.8K

$29.8K RON 134.6K

-1.29%

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

$27.6K RON 124.4K

$26.6K RON 120.2K

3.52%

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

$198 RON 894

$106 RON 477

87.22%

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

$8.71 RON 39.34

$9.81 RON 44.29

-11.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.07 RON 45.47

$8.36 RON 37.73

20.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 RON 247

$43.43 RON 196

26.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.74 RON 116

$19.34 RON 87.3

33.09%

Cinema Ticket

$8.74 RON 39.46

$6.76 RON 30.53

29.29%

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

$648 RON 2,924

$1,374 RON 6,203

-52.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K RON 68.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$95.7 RON 432

$56.3 RON 254

70.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.35 RON 182

$31.54 RON 142

27.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.2 RON 366

$80.9 RON 365

0.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 RON 457

$81.7 RON 369

23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$702 RON 3,171

$444 RON 2,004

58.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 RON 2,198

$307 RON 1,386

58.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,143 RON 5,162

$667 RON 3,010

71.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 RON 3,405

$505 RON 2,281

49.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,032 RON 18.2K

$2,388 RON 10.8K

68.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 RON 10.5K

$1,511 RON 6,820

54.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,535 RON 6,931

$1,042 RON 4,704

47.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

7.47

-8.70%

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

Last update for Bucharest: September 6, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $702 in Bucharest and $444 in Targu Mures. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 47% 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 $45.00 in Targu Mures for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $201 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 44% in total monthly costs ($1,434 vs $993 including rent). Targu Mures is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 47% 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 $444 in Targu Mures. 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 $993 in Targu Mures – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Mures runs roughly 21% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $993 in Targu Mures versus $1,434 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 44% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.