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: $1,219 in Craiova versus $1,397 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,775 in Craiova versus $2,105 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Craiova versus $2,814 in Bucharest.

Living in Craiova costs roughly 13% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Craiova is 11% below, Bucharest is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.47 RON 34.28

$15.50 RON 71.1

-51.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.52 RON 172

$59.9 RON 275

-37.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.73 RON 35.45

$7.54 RON 34.58

2.52%

Cappuccino

$2.87 RON 13.18

$3.72 RON 17.07

-22.85%

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

$2.31 RON 10.59

$2.36 RON 10.82

-2.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 RON 8.73

$2.30 RON 10.55

-17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.45 RON 11.26

$3.98 RON 18.26

-38.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 RON 16.58

$4.51 RON 20.70

-19.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 RON 6.06

$1.82 RON 8.33

-27.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 RON 4.22

$1.44 RON 6.62

-36.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 RON 6.86

$1.82 RON 8.36

-17.58%

Eggs

$3.44 RON 15.77

$3.94 RON 18.08

-12.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.54 RON 34.60

$9.47 RON 43.44

-20.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 RON 30.73

$7.05 RON 32.36

-4.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.65 RON 53.5

$12.16 RON 55.8

-4.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.04 RON 4.79

$1.33 RON 6.11

-21.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.99

$1.67 RON 7.68

-8.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 RON 6.99

$1.64 RON 7.51

-7.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.90 RON 8.71

$2.80 RON 12.83

-32.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 RON 3.92

$0.84 RON 3.86

2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.32

$0.79 RON 3.62

18.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 RON 3.51

$0.91 RON 4.16

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 RON 3.38

$1.00 RON 4.59

-26.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.70 RON 30.75

$7.00 RON 32.12

-4.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 RON 30.90

$6.44 RON 29.54

4.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 RON 5.44

$1.24 RON 5.70

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 RON 7.36

$1.74 RON 7.99

-8.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 RON 4.08

$0.86 RON 3.93

3.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.08 RON 120

$21.97 RON 101

18.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 RON 2.88

$0.63 RON 2.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 RON 2.91

$0.69 RON 3.17

-7.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.62 RON 30.37

$6.68 RON 30.66

-0.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.88 RON 8.61

$1.97 RON 9.05

-4.57%

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

$29.6K RON 136.0K

$29.3K RON 134.6K

1.03%

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

$27.3K RON 125.1K

$28.4K RON 130.4K

-4.06%

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

$206 RON 947

$192 RON 879

7.69%

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

$10.52 RON 48.28

$8.51 RON 39.03

23.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.68 RON 53.6

$10.09 RON 46.28

15.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.43 RON 190

$53.1 RON 244

-21.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.75 RON 104

$25.78 RON 118

-11.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 RON 36.28

$8.57 RON 39.30

-7.70%

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

$441 RON 2,025

$664 RON 3,048

-33.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,696 RON 39.9K

$15.1K RON 69.3K

-42.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.8 RON 270

$94.5 RON 434

-37.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.69 RON 228

$40.90 RON 188

21.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 RON 379

$82.4 RON 378

0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 RON 497

$99.2 RON 455

9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 RON 2,460

$716 RON 3,283

-25.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 RON 1,840

$470 RON 2,158

-14.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$921 RON 4,225

$1,149 RON 5,273

-19.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 RON 2,836

$739 RON 3,389

-16.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,767 RON 12.7K

$3,881 RON 17.8K

-28.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,050 RON 9,407

$2,277 RON 10.4K

-9.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$981 RON 4,500

$1,484 RON 6,809

-33.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

6.76

1.18%

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

Last update for Craiova: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $536 in Craiova and $716 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 51% 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: $38.00 in Craiova vs $60.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 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 15% in total monthly costs ($1,219 vs $1,397 including rent). Craiova is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 51% 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: $536 in Craiova versus $716 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,219 per month in Craiova versus $1,397 in Bucharest – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Craiova runs roughly 19% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,219 in Craiova versus $1,397 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 15% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.