🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,151 in Giurgiu versus $1,430 in Bucharest.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,790 in Giurgiu versus $2,131 in Bucharest.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,430 in Giurgiu versus $2,833 in Bucharest.
🌍Living in Giurgiu costs roughly 20% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Giurgiu is 16% below, Bucharest is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.00RON 58.7
$15.63RON 70.6
-16.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4RON 250
$62.3RON 281
-11.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.94RON 35.84
$7.85RON 35.44
1.15%
Cappuccino
$3.84RON 17.32
$3.63RON 16.37
5.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52RON 11.40
$2.48RON 11.18
1.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36RON 10.65
$2.36RON 10.64
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.29RON 14.87
$3.92RON 17.70
-16.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59RON 16.19
$4.50RON 20.31
-20.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63RON 7.38
$1.80RON 8.12
-9.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50RON 6.79
$1.41RON 6.36
6.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82RON 8.22
$1.78RON 8.03
2.25%
Eggs
$3.73RON 16.83
$3.88RON 17.50
-3.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.61RON 43.37
$9.61RON 43.40
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15RON 32.28
$7.16RON 32.32
-0.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90RON 58.3
$12.25RON 55.3
5.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62RON 7.29
$1.31RON 5.93
23.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60RON 7.21
$1.70RON 7.66
-5.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83RON 8.27
$1.63RON 7.35
12.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.88RON 12.99
$2.78RON 12.54
3.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81RON 3.64
$0.86RON 3.89
-5.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91RON 4.09
$0.74RON 3.36
22.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88RON 3.98
$0.94RON 4.25
-6.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86RON 3.88
$0.97RON 4.40
-11.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18RON 27.89
$6.87RON 31.01
-10.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.52RON 29.42
$6.66RON 30.05
-2.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31RON 5.93
$1.26RON 5.67
3.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96RON 8.86
$1.73RON 7.81
13.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75RON 3.38
$1.08RON 4.86
-30.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.00RON 104
$21.84RON 98.6
5.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RON 3.26
$0.64RON 2.88
12.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67RON 3.05
$0.68RON 3.08
-1.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.77RON 30.58
$6.46RON 29.18
4.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92RON 8.68
$1.98RON 8.96
-3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KRON 136.8K
$29.4KRON 132.6K
3.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRON 122.6K
$27.8KRON 125.7K
-2.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191RON 861
$204RON 920
-6.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.21RON 37.06
$8.53RON 38.52
-3.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.80RON 44.26
$9.87RON 44.56
-0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.91RON 185
$54.7RON 247
-25.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88RON 98.8
$25.58RON 115
-14.46%
Cinema Ticket
$10.11RON 45.66
$8.86RON 40.00
14.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$476RON 2,147
$663RON 2,994
-28.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,114RON 32.1K
$15.3KRON 69.0K
-53.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0RON 239
$95.2RON 430
-44.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.58RON 161
$40.99RON 185
-13.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.9RON 365
$82.7RON 373
-2.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6RON 423
$101RON 454
-6.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$411RON 1,856
$710RON 3,204
-42.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302RON 1,366
$490RON 2,214
-38.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638RON 2,881
$1,130RON 5,101
-43.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$480RON 2,169
$759RON 3,426
-36.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,958RON 8,838
$3,914RON 17.7K
-49.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,362RON 6,147
$2,317RON 10.5K
-41.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Giurgiu
Bucharest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,486RON 6,708
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.2
6.83
5.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Giurgiu: August 29, 2026
Last update for Bucharest: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $411 in Giurgiu and $710 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Giurgiu vs $62.0 in Bucharest. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $236, with Bucharest cheaper for home cooking.
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
Giurgiu vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Giurgiu and in Bucharest?
Giurgiu and Bucharest differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,151 vs $1,430 including rent). Giurgiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Giurgiu compared to Bucharest?
You'd need roughly $1,726 in Giurgiu and $2,144 in Bucharest 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 Giurgiu and in Bucharest?
Rent for a central apartment: $411 in Giurgiu versus $710 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Giurgiu or Bucharest?
All in, you'll spend $1,151 per month in Giurgiu versus $1,430 in Bucharest – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Giurgiu and in Bucharest?
A monthly transit pass in Giurgiu runs roughly 5% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,151 in Giurgiu versus $1,430 in Bucharest, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Giurgiu but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Giurgiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Giurgiu 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.
Is Giurgiu or Bucharest safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Giurgiu 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.
Where should expats move: Giurgiu or Bucharest?
Expats usually find Giurgiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.