Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Focsani and Bucharest

For one person, living is cheaper in Focsani: $1,019 a month against $1,354 in Bucharest, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Focsani, Romania
Bucharest, Romania
Focsani
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,019
/mo nomad
Bucharest
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,354
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Focsani and in Bucharest

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,019 in Focsani versus $1,354 in Bucharest.

  • Focsani $1,019
  • Bucharest $1,354

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,643 in Focsani versus $2,043 in Bucharest.

  • Focsani $1,643
  • Bucharest $2,043

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,266 in Focsani versus $2,733 in Bucharest.

  • Focsani $2,266
  • Bucharest $2,733

Living in Focsani costs roughly 25% less than in Bucharest, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53 RON 36.19
$14.66 RON 70.5
-48.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.58 RON 205
$57.7 RON 277
-26.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.21 RON 34.64
$7.52 RON 36.14
-4.12%
Cappuccino
$2.40 RON 11.53
$3.56 RON 17.09
-32.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 RON 8.90
$2.47 RON 11.88
-25.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 RON 7.60
$2.18 RON 10.50
-27.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 RON 9.18
$3.69 RON 17.73
-48.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 RON 12.24
$4.28 RON 20.57
-40.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 RON 7.96
$1.67 RON 8.04
-0.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 RON 5.18
$1.35 RON 6.49
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 RON 5.90
$1.78 RON 8.53
-30.90%
Eggs
$3.13 RON 15.04
$3.56 RON 17.12
-12.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 RON 41.57
$9.12 RON 43.86
-5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.66 RON 32.03
$6.82 RON 32.77
-2.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.42 RON 50.1
$12.13 RON 58.3
-14.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 RON 5.79
$1.26 RON 6.08
-4.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 RON 7.58
$1.62 RON 7.80
-2.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 RON 7.56
$1.56 RON 7.49
0.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 RON 10.83
$2.54 RON 12.21
-11.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 RON 4.08
$0.78 RON 3.76
8.97%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 RON 3.82
$0.77 RON 3.72
2.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 RON 2.95
$0.89 RON 4.27
-31.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 RON 3.65
$0.90 RON 4.32
-15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 RON 27.72
$6.55 RON 31.49
-11.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.25 RON 20.44
$6.37 RON 30.60
-33.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 RON 5.53
$1.24 RON 5.98
-7.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 RON 7.09
$1.62 RON 7.80
-8.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 RON 3.90
$0.85 RON 4.11
-4.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.65 RON 75.2
$20.71 RON 99.6
-24.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 RON 2.92
$0.61 RON 2.95
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 RON 3.18
$0.61 RON 2.95
8.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.34 RON 30.46
$6.16 RON 29.62
2.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 RON 8.99
$2.00 RON 9.60
-6.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K RON 119.6K
$27.9K RON 134.4K
-10.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K RON 116.0K
$25.3K RON 121.7K
-4.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 RON 816
$192 RON 923
-11.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.23 RON 39.55
$7.92 RON 38.06
3.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.01 RON 43.31
$8.96 RON 43.06
0.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.77 RON 134
$49.99 RON 240
-44.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.37 RON 175
$24.81 RON 119
46.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.12 RON 39.03
$8.51 RON 40.90
-4.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$319 RON 1,531
$686 RON 3,297
-53.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K RON 70.0K
$14.4K RON 69.3K
1.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.2 RON 429
$90.2 RON 434
-1.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.40 RON 185
$38.74 RON 186
-0.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 RON 380
$78.9 RON 379
0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.0 RON 442
$92.1 RON 443
-0.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 RON 1,811
$711 RON 3,419
-47.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$291 RON 1,397
$462 RON 2,220
-37.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$895 RON 4,304
$1,053 RON 5,064
-15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$636 RON 3,058
$723 RON 3,474
-11.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,045 RON 5,025
$3,634 RON 17.5K
-71.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$878 RON 4,220
$2,173 RON 10.4K
-59.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Focsani
Bucharest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$683 RON 3,284
$1,354 RON 6,508
-49.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
6.75
-

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

Last update for Focsani: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Focsani
$291
Bucharest
$462 58.9% $171
Groceries & Markets
Focsani
$201
Bucharest
$225 11.8% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Focsani
$187
Bucharest
$209 11.8% $22
Eating Out
Focsani
$139
Bucharest
$228 64.1% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Focsani
$134
Bucharest
$135 0.4% $0.6
Sport & Entertainment
Focsani
$44
Bucharest
$67 52.3% $23
Getting Around
Focsani
$23
Bucharest
$28 21.9% $5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $377 in Focsani and $711 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 98% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $43 in Focsani vs $58 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $225 per month, with Focsani cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇴 Focsani
🇷🇴 Bucharest
🕒 Local time
10:35 10:35 AM
10:35 10:35 AM
Same time as Focsani
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
97,186
1,883,425 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to RON – Romanian Leu Converter

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.81 RON (1 RON = 0.208 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Focsani Bucharest 160 km
From you
  • Focsani
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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
Focsani vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Focsani and in Bucharest?
Focsani and Bucharest differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,019 vs $1,354 including rent). Focsani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Focsani. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Focsani and in Bucharest?
Rent for a central apartment: $377 in Focsani versus $711 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Focsani or Bucharest?
All in, you’ll spend $1,019 per month in Focsani versus $1,354 in Bucharest – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Focsani and in Bucharest?
A monthly transit pass in Focsani runs roughly 24% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Focsani is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Focsani and Bucharest?
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.
Where should expats move: Focsani or Bucharest?
Expats usually find Focsani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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