Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Turgi

For one person, living is cheaper in Bucharest: $1,337 a month against $3,455 in Turgi, rent and utilities included – about $25,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,337
/mo nomad
Turgi
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,455
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bucharest and in Turgi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bucharest and in Turgi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,337 in Bucharest versus $3,455 in Turgi.

  • Bucharest $1,337
  • Turgi $3,455

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,029 in Bucharest versus $5,240 in Turgi.

  • Bucharest $2,029
  • Turgi $5,240

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,721 in Bucharest versus $7,024 in Turgi.

  • Bucharest $2,721
  • Turgi $7,024

Living in Bucharest costs roughly 61% less than in Turgi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bucharest is 1% below, Turgi is 155% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.45 RON 68.4
$30.61 CHF 25.21
-52.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 RON 275
$125 CHF 103
-53.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.53 RON 35.65
$17.85 CHF 14.70
-57.82%
Cappuccino
$3.45 RON 16.33
$6.52 CHF 5.37
-47.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 RON 11.65
$6.44 CHF 5.31
-61.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 RON 10.54
$6.09 CHF 5.02
-63.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.76 RON 17.78
$9.10 CHF 7.50
-58.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 RON 19.84
$9.47 CHF 7.80
-55.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 RON 7.67
$2.28 CHF 1.88
-28.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 RON 6.13
$3.14 CHF 2.59
-58.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 RON 8.05
$3.32 CHF 2.74
-48.80%
Eggs
$3.79 RON 17.93
$8.17 CHF 6.73
-53.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.86 RON 41.90
$26.28 CHF 21.64
-66.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.90 RON 32.67
$27.31 CHF 22.49
-74.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 RON 57.4
$41.00 CHF 33.77
-70.39%
Apples (1kg)
$1.30 RON 6.17
$3.70 CHF 3.05
-64.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.55
$2.32 CHF 1.91
-31.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.42
$3.02 CHF 2.48
-48.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 RON 12.67
$4.64 CHF 3.82
-42.24%
Potato (1kg)
$0.81 RON 3.82
$1.69 CHF 1.39
-52.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.73
$1.92 CHF 1.58
-58.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 RON 4.30
$2.16 CHF 1.78
-57.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 RON 4.58
$1.56 CHF 1.29
-37.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41 RON 30.34
$11.40 CHF 9.39
-43.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.18 RON 29.24
$11.90 CHF 9.80
-48.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 RON 5.83
$2.46 CHF 2.02
-50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 RON 7.91
$3.09 CHF 2.54
-45.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.87 RON 4.10
$4.63 CHF 3.82
-81.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.98 RON 99.3
$101 CHF 83.5
-79.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 3.10
$7.84 CHF 6.46
-91.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.85
$4.58 CHF 3.77
-86.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.19 RON 29.28
$84.5 CHF 69.6
-92.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 RON 9.15
$2.40 CHF 1.97
-19.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K RON 135.9K
$39.4K CHF 32.5K
-27.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K RON 124.6K
$39.7K CHF 32.7K
-33.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 RON 926
$295 CHF 243
-33.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.49 RON 40.19
$46.28 CHF 38.12
-81.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.05 RON 42.84
$63.1 CHF 52.0
-85.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.54 RON 234
$78.2 CHF 64.4
-36.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.03 RON 118
$39.11 CHF 32.21
-36.00%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24 RON 39.01
$22.57 CHF 18.59
-63.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 RON 3,007
$2,948 CHF 2,428
-78.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K RON 69.0K
$33.1K CHF 27.2K
-55.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5 RON 419
$144 CHF 119
-38.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.77 RON 183
$78.8 CHF 64.9
-50.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.8 RON 373
$163 CHF 134
-51.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6 RON 428
$201 CHF 165
-54.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$695 RON 3,288
$1,794 CHF 1,478
-61.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 RON 2,109
$1,437 CHF 1,183
-68.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,084 RON 5,130
$2,754 CHF 2,268
-60.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 RON 3,368
$2,387 CHF 1,966
-70.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,797 RON 18.0K
$14.6K CHF 12.0K
-73.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,202 RON 10.4K
$14.1K CHF 11.6K
-84.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Turgi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 RON 6,406
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
2.42
178.93%

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

Last update for Bucharest: October 19, 2026

Last update for Turgi: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
$446
Turgi
$1.4K 222% $991
Eating Out
Bucharest
$226
Turgi
$491 118% $266
Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
$225
Turgi
$585 159% $359
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
$213
Turgi
$405 89.9% $192
Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
$133
Turgi
$264 97.7% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
$66
Turgi
$123 86.8% $57
Getting Around
Bucharest
$28
Turgi
$151 436% $122

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $695 in Bucharest and $1,794 in Turgi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Bucharest vs $125 in Turgi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $585 per month, with Bucharest cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🇨🇭 Turgi
🕒 Local time
01:37 1:37 AM
00:37 12:37 AM
1 h behind Bucharest
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,883,425 Capital
3,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.73 RON (1 RON = 0.211 USD). 1 EUR = 5.32 RON (1 RON = 0.188 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bucharest Turgi 1,420 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Bucharest
  • Turgi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Turgi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bucharest and in Turgi?
Bucharest and Turgi differ by about 158% in total monthly costs ($1,337 vs $3,455 including rent). Bucharest is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bucharest compared to Turgi?
You'd need roughly $2,006 in Bucharest and $5,183 in Turgi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bucharest and in Turgi?
Rent for a central apartment: $695 in Bucharest versus $1,794 in Turgi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bucharest or Turgi?
All in, you'll spend $1,337 per month in Bucharest versus $3,455 in Turgi – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Bucharest and in Turgi?
A monthly transit pass in Bucharest runs roughly 383% less than in Turgi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,337 in Bucharest versus $3,455 in Turgi, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bucharest but tight or insufficient in Turgi. The gap between the two cities makes Bucharest the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bucharest and Turgi?
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.
Is Bucharest or Turgi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bucharest and Turgi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bucharest or Turgi?
Expats usually find Bucharest gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Turgi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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