Cost of Living Comparison Between Romania and Australia Cost of Living Comparison Between Romania and Australia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Romania vs $2,184 in Australia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Romania vs $3,219 in Australia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Romania vs $4,253 in Australia, rent included.

Romania is roughly 53% cheaper than Australia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Romania sits 23% below the global median, while Australia is 63% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,592$2,842) than Romania ($802$1,374), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Romania
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40 RON 51.6
$16.44 A$23.23
-30.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.17 RON 209
$78.1 A$110
-40.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 RON 35.53
$9.94 A$14.05
-21.03%
Cappuccino
$2.89 RON 13.06
$3.60 A$5.08
-19.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 RON 8.81
$2.68 A$3.78
-27.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 RON 8.41
$2.14 A$3.02
-13.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.79 RON 12.61
$6.53 A$9.23
-57.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 RON 15.69
$7.05 A$9.96
-50.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Romania
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 RON 7.28
$1.58 A$2.23
1.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.52
$2.53 A$3.57
-51.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 RON 8.12
$2.07 A$2.93
-13.04%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.16
$4.30 A$6.08
-22.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 RON 40.45
$9.03 A$12.76
-1.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.86 RON 31.01
$8.55 A$12.08
-19.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.17 RON 50.5
$13.96 A$19.72
-19.99%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.34
$3.18 A$4.49
-62.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 RON 7.29
$2.84 A$4.01
-43.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 RON 7.47
$2.95 A$4.17
-44.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 RON 10.09
$4.43 A$6.26
-49.66%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RON 4.16
$2.46 A$3.47
-62.60%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.41
$2.17 A$3.07
-55.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.51
$2.29 A$3.24
-56.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 RON 3.66
$1.57 A$2.22
-48.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.24 RON 28.22
$30.87 A$43.61
-79.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 RON 30.38
$14.06 A$19.86
-52.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 RON 5.05
$4.55 A$6.43
-75.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 RON 8.10
$4.81 A$6.80
-62.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Romania
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 RON 3.60
$2.87 A$4.05
-72.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.67 RON 103
$95.8 A$135
-76.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 RON 4.09
$3.65 A$5.15
-75.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.16
$1.76 A$2.49
-60.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.04 RON 36.39
$38.27 A$54.1
-78.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 RON 7.45
$1.15 A$1.63
43.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K RON 127.7K
$28.4K A$40.1K
-0.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K RON 122.0K
$23.0K A$32.5K
17.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Romania
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 RON 727
$178 A$251
-9.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 RON 38.08
$26.46 A$37.38
-68.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.59 RON 43.37
$54.1 A$76.4
-82.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Romania
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.78 RON 198
$46.64 A$65.9
-6.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.48 RON 92.6
$16.54 A$23.37
23.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.30 RON 37.53
$13.65 A$19.28
-39.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Romania
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 RON 2,222
$1,575 A$2,225
-68.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K RON 45.3K
$12.7K A$17.9K
-21.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Romania
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 RON 311
$71.5 A$101
-3.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.83 RON 189
$50.8 A$71.8
-17.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.4 RON 373
$100 A$142
-17.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 RON 419
$108 A$153
-14.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Romania
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 RON 2,241
$1,384 A$1,955
-64.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 RON 1,610
$1,105 A$1,562
-67.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 RON 3,724
$2,298 A$3,246
-64.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 RON 2,727
$1,728 A$2,441
-65.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,582 RON 11.7K
$7,610 A$10.8K
-66.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,891 RON 8,556
$5,504 A$7,776
-65.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Romania
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 RON 4,816
$4,002 A$5,654
-73.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
6.35
7.72%

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

Last update for Romania: June 8, 2026

Last update for Australia: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $392 in Romania vs $1,232 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $644 in Bucharest and $1,568 in Canberra.

Average salary: $891 in Romania vs $3,845 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 214% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 75% more in Australia.

Public transport is 235% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 332% higher in Australia, giving Australia 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
Romania vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Romania?
Romania is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 104% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Romania, contributing to the overall 104% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Australia or Romania?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Romania, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or Romania?
Romania is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Romania vs other spots: cost of living compared

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