Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Romania Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Romania

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in India versus $1,035 in Romania.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $618 in India versus $1,583 in Romania.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $2,131 in Romania.

Living in India costs about 62% less than in Romania on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Romania 23% lower.

India ($270$887) and Romania ($802$1,375) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Romania
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.58 ₹245
$11.53 RON 50.3
-77.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.07 ₹1,336
$45.88 RON 200
-69.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.14 ₹393
$8.15 RON 35.55
-49.20%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ₹171
$2.88 RON 12.55
-37.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₹40.94
$2.04 RON 8.88
-78.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ₹15.49
$1.87 RON 8.14
-91.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 ₹186
$2.78 RON 12.14
-29.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 ₹330
$3.49 RON 15.23
-0.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Romania
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.5
$1.54 RON 6.73
-53.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 ₹46.22
$1.26 RON 5.49
-61.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ₹63.8
$1.74 RON 7.58
-61.49%
Eggs
$0.99 ₹94.0
$3.30 RON 14.40
-70.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.14 ₹488
$8.79 RON 38.34
-41.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 ₹304
$6.61 RON 28.82
-51.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.96 RON 47.79
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 ₹210
$1.21 RON 5.30
82.64%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 ₹66.3
$1.66 RON 7.24
-57.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹99.3
$1.60 RON 7.00
-34.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.1
$2.16 RON 9.42
-75.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.43 ₹40.59
$0.96 RON 4.19
-55.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.14
$0.98 RON 4.27
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.22
$0.98 RON 4.29
-46.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹30.82
$0.81 RON 3.54
-60.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ₹392
$6.14 RON 26.78
-32.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 ₹717
$7.10 RON 30.94
6.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ₹173
$1.16 RON 5.04
56.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₹274
$1.81 RON 7.87
59.12%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.63 ₹535
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Romania
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₹31.87
$0.84 RON 3.67
-59.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.70 ₹921
$22.62 RON 98.6
-57.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.97 ₹91.8
$0.89 RON 3.86
8.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.26
$0.70 RON 3.07
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 ₹161
$7.95 RON 34.65
-78.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$1.59 RON 6.94
-22.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.7K ₹1.3M
$28.3K RON 123.5K
-51.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K ₹2.2M
$27.6K RON 120.2K
-16.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Romania
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.37 ₹3,832
$165 RON 717
-75.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.90 ₹370
$8.34 RON 36.37
-53.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.98 ₹758
$10.05 RON 43.80
-20.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Romania
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.26 ₹1,544
$45.04 RON 196
-63.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.63 ₹724
$21.01 RON 91.6
-63.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 ₹338
$8.22 RON 35.82
-56.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Romania
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$70.8 ₹6,718
$497 RON 2,169
-85.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,810 ₹171.8K
$9,905 RON 43.2K
-81.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Romania
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.95 ₹2,369
$70.1 RON 305
-64.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.83 ₹2,547
$40.52 RON 177
-33.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.39 ₹4,309
$82.7 RON 360
-45.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.38 ₹3,169
$91.9 RON 401
-63.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Romania
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 ₹16.4K
$496 RON 2,161
-65.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$113 ₹10.7K
$365 RON 1,591
-69.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$412 ₹39.2K
$844 RON 3,681
-51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$257 ₹24.4K
$612 RON 2,669
-57.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,260 ₹119.6K
$2,641 RON 11.5K
-52.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹59.9K
$1,965 RON 8,566
-67.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Romania
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.0K
$1,099 RON 4,791
-60.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
6.84
31.87%

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

Last update for India: April 27, 2026

Last update for Romania: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $391 in Romania. Capital cities: $242 in Delhi vs $643 in Bucharest.

National salary averages: $401 in India, $924 in Romania. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 208% higher in Romania.

Dining out costs 300% more in Romania.

Public transport is 133% more expensive in Romania.

Salaries are 130% higher in Romania, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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
India vs Romania: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Romania?
At $579 per month in India and $1,089 in Romania, there's a 88% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Romania beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Romania?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Romania, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Romania?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Romania may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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