Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Zalau Cost of Living Comparison Between Bucharest and Zalau

😐 Solo nomad: Bucharest is 46% more expensive than Zalau without rent, and 40.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Bucharest is 66.7% more expensive than Zalau without rent, and 57% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.67 RON 59.4
$8.19 RON 35.57
66.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.8 RON 295
$34.27 RON 149
97.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.29 RON 36
$5.72 RON 24.81
44.93%
Cappuccino
$3.35 RON 14.56
$2.01 RON 8.73
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 RON 10.09
$2.07 RON 9
12.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 RON 10.1
$1.8 RON 7.82
29.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 RON 14.93
$2.74 RON 11.89
25.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 RON 17.1
$2.81 RON 12.21
40.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 RON 7.59
$1.45 RON 6.27
20.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 RON 6.14
$1.26 RON 5.48
11.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 RON 8.03
$1.42 RON 6.15
30.28%
Eggs
$3.5 RON 15.21
$2.24 RON 9.73
56.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 RON 40.19
$7.75 RON 33.65
19.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.23 RON 31.41
$6.06 RON 26.32
19.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.24 RON 53.1
$8.75 RON 37.99
39.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.34 RON 5.82
$0.96 RON 4.15
39.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 RON 7.52
$1.53 RON 6.65
13.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 RON 7.95
$1.56 RON 6.79
17.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 RON 10.49
$2.15 RON 9.33
12.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 RON 4.3
$0.71 RON 3.08
39.44%
Onion (1kg)
$0.95 RON 4.12
$0.71 RON 3.08
33.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 RON 4.04
$0.72 RON 3.12
29.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 RON 3.85
$0.87 RON 3.8
2.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52 RON 28.31
$5.5 RON 23.88
18.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.22 RON 35.69
$5.89 RON 25.56
39.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 RON 5.35
$1.04 RON 4.51
18.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 RON 8.51
$1.25 RON 5.43
56.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 RON 4.87
$0.95 RON 4.14
17.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.42 RON 84.3
$20.16 RON 87.5
-3.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 RON 2.86
$0.94 RON 4.09
-29.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 RON 2.67
$0.8 RON 3.46
-23.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.94 RON 30.14
$9.34 RON 40.53
-25.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 RON 7.35
$1.59 RON 6.92
6.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K RON 126.8K
$28.1K RON 121.8K
4.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30K RON 130.4K
$26K RON 112.9K
15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 RON 771
$140 RON 606
27.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73 RON 37.89
$4.63 RON 20.11
88.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.43 RON 49.64
$6.76 RON 29.36
69.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 RON 239
$35.68 RON 155
54.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.27 RON 127
$19.21 RON 83.4
52.37%
Cinema Ticket
$8.99 RON 39.03
$5.6 RON 24.32
60.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$661 RON 2,872
$434 RON 1,885
52.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K RON 62.7K
$6,800 RON 29.5K
112.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.5 RON 349
$57.5 RON 250
40.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 RON 194
$38.24 RON 166
16.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 RON 392
$64.3 RON 279
40.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 RON 474
$68.2 RON 296
59.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$653 RON 2,835
$383 RON 1,664
70.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 RON 1,936
$294 RON 1,277
51.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,313 RON 5,701
$586 RON 2,542
124.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$849 RON 3,687
$440 RON 1,909
93.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,647 RON 15.8K
$1,766 RON 7,665
106.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,132 RON 9,257
$1,369 RON 5,942
55.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bucharest
Zalau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,407 RON 6,111
$666 RON 2,893
111.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.1
6.5
9.23%

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

Last update for Bucharest: October 28, 2025

Last update for Zalau: October 28, 2025

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