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: $1,361 in Bucharest versus $1,061 in Targu Mures.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,177 in Bucharest versus $1,549 in Targu Mures.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,994 in Bucharest versus $2,036 in Targu Mures.

Living in Bucharest is roughly 28% more expensive than in Targu Mures, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 2% above, Targu Mures is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.58 RON 62.3

$8.46 RON 38.78

60.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 RON 318

$39.85 RON 183

73.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 RON 37.61

$8.79 RON 40.30

-6.71%

Cappuccino

$3.27 RON 15.01

$2.19 RON 10.05

49.32%

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

$2.31 RON 10.59

$1.32 RON 6.03

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 RON 10.69

$1.15 RON 5.26

102.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 RON 15.41

$2.25 RON 10.32

49.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 RON 17.62

$2.78 RON 12.75

38.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 RON 8.14

$1.62 RON 7.41

9.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 RON 6.25

$1.22 RON 5.59

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 RON 8.86

$1.59 RON 7.31

21.38%

Eggs

$3.62 RON 16.61

$2.92 RON 13.40

23.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 RON 43.50

$8.68 RON 39.78

9.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.86 RON 31.44

$6.94 RON 31.83

-1.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.27 RON 56.2

$12.63 RON 57.9

-2.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 RON 6.38

$1.02 RON 4.66

36.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 RON 7.80

$1.32 RON 6.04

28.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 RON 8.05

$1.52 RON 6.97

15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.52 RON 11.53

$1.97 RON 9.03

27.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 RON 4.77

$0.91 RON 4.15

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.64

$0.93 RON 4.28

8.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 RON 4.57

$0.78 RON 3.58

28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 RON 4.37

$0.80 RON 3.65

18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.32 RON 28.96

$6.25 RON 28.67

1.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 RON 29.13

$7.39 RON 33.89

-14.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 RON 5.85

$1.05 RON 4.81

21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 RON 9.17

$1.61 RON 7.40

24.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.12 RON 5.12

$0.56 RON 2.58

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.43 RON 89.1

$15.04 RON 68.9

29.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 RON 3.03

$0.90 RON 4.13

-26.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 RON 2.77

$0.72 RON 3.29

-16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 RON 31.20

$7.52 RON 34.47

-9.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.72 RON 7.89

$1.61 RON 7.39

6.83%

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

$29.0K RON 133.2K

$27.8K RON 127.6K

4.38%

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

$29.9K RON 137.1K

$28.5K RON 130.8K

4.87%

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

$179 RON 819

$167 RON 765

7.04%

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

$8.77 RON 40.20

$8.53 RON 39.09

2.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.15 RON 51.1

$10.05 RON 46.10

10.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 RON 251

$46.19 RON 212

18.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.28 RON 134

$18.49 RON 84.8

58.36%

Cinema Ticket

$9.41 RON 43.16

$5.83 RON 26.73

61.41%

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

$668 RON 3,061

$1,378 RON 6,320

-51.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K RON 66.0K

$7,028 RON 32.2K

104.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.6 RON 370

$72.9 RON 334

10.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.84 RON 206

$31.90 RON 146

40.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 RON 410

$73.9 RON 339

21.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 RON 501

$80.2 RON 368

36.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$657 RON 3,015

$440 RON 2,019

49.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,983

$315 RON 1,445

37.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 RON 6,117

$559 RON 2,563

138.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$857 RON 3,929

$407 RON 1,864

110.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,890 RON 17.8K

$2,294 RON 10.5K

69.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,171 RON 9,953

$1,504 RON 6,898

44.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,436 RON 6,583

$1,062 RON 4,869

35.20%

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: July 21, 2026

Last update for Targu Mures: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Bucharest and $440 in Targu Mures. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 35% 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 $40.00 in Targu Mures for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 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 28% in total monthly costs ($1,361 vs $1,061 including rent). Targu Mures is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 35% 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: $657 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 $1,361 per month in Bucharest versus $1,061 in Targu Mures – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Mures runs roughly 29% 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 $1,361 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 28% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.