Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Bucharest Cost of Living Comparison Between Craiova and Bucharest

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,109 in Craiova versus $1,316 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,650 in Craiova versus $2,132 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,191 in Craiova versus $2,949 in Bucharest.

Living in Craiova costs roughly 16% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Craiova 17% lower, Bucharest 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.38 RON 42.84

$13.55 RON 61.9

-30.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.95 RON 210

$68.7 RON 314

-33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 RON 36.34

$7.83 RON 35.75

1.66%

Cappuccino

$2.49 RON 11.36

$3.44 RON 15.72

-27.62%

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

$2.10 RON 9.59

$2.29 RON 10.47

-8.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 RON 8.79

$2.42 RON 11.07

-20.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 RON 10.26

$3.40 RON 15.54

-33.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 RON 15.29

$3.89 RON 17.76

-13.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 RON 7.12

$1.81 RON 8.24

-13.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 RON 4.56

$1.42 RON 6.48

-29.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 RON 7.80

$1.86 RON 8.49

-8.06%

Eggs

$3.23 RON 14.73

$3.70 RON 16.88

-12.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.72 RON 35.27

$9.40 RON 42.92

-17.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 RON 29.60

$7.20 RON 32.86

-10.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 RON 44.79

$11.98 RON 54.7

-18.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 RON 5.63

$1.39 RON 6.36

-11.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 RON 7.76

$1.72 RON 7.84

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.30

$1.74 RON 7.96

-8.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 RON 8.40

$2.47 RON 11.29

-25.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 RON 4.90

$1.00 RON 4.57

7.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.19

$1.03 RON 4.70

10.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RON 3.65

$1.00 RON 4.56

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.66

$0.93 RON 4.26

-13.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 RON 26.86

$6.37 RON 29.10

-7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.34 RON 28.93

$6.70 RON 30.58

-5.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 RON 5.93

$1.27 RON 5.81

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.29

$2.01 RON 9.16

11.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$1.18 RON 5.41

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.02 RON 105

$19.18 RON 87.6

20.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 RON 2.56

$0.66 RON 3.00

-15.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 RON 4.06

$0.62 RON 2.82

43.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.75 RON 30.83

$6.95 RON 31.73

-2.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.32

$1.72 RON 7.83

-6.98%

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

$27.5K RON 125.5K

$28.2K RON 128.9K

-2.66%

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

$27.6K RON 126.1K

$30.1K RON 137.3K

-8.14%

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

$212 RON 969

$182 RON 832

16.44%

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

$8.08 RON 36.89

$8.96 RON 40.89

-9.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.58 RON 52.9

$11.24 RON 51.4

3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.03 RON 169

$53.7 RON 245

-31.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.97 RON 86.6

$29.04 RON 133

-34.68%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 RON 29.89

$9.00 RON 41.09

-27.33%

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

$434 RON 1,980

$661 RON 3,018

-34.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,856 RON 40.4K

$14.6K RON 66.7K

-39.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.5 RON 358

$81.2 RON 371

-3.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.91 RON 173

$44.34 RON 202

-14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 RON 354

$90.2 RON 412

-13.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 RON 396

$110 RON 502

-21.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 RON 1,764

$661 RON 3,018

-41.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$317 RON 1,446

$443 RON 2,023

-28.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$706 RON 3,223

$1,328 RON 6,065

-46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$436 RON 1,989

$830 RON 3,789

-47.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,735 RON 12.5K

$3,866 RON 17.7K

-29.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,998 RON 9,122

$2,178 RON 9,946

-8.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$945 RON 4,316

$1,432 RON 6,540

-34.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

7.1

-11.55%

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

Last update for Craiova: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $386 in Craiova and $661 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 52% 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: $46.00 in Craiova vs $69.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $235 per month, with Craiova 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

Craiova vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Craiova and Bucharest differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,109 vs $1,316 including rent). Craiova is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Bucharest. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $386 in Craiova versus $661 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,109 per month in Craiova versus $1,316 in Bucharest – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 20% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,109 in Craiova versus $1,316 in Bucharest, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Craiova but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Craiova 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, Craiova and Bucharest 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 Craiova gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.