Cost of Living Comparison Between Romania and Canada Cost of Living Comparison Between Romania and Canada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,032 per month in Romania vs $2,320 in Canada, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Romania vs $3,377 in Canada, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,130 per month in Romania vs $4,433 in Canada, rent included.

Romania is roughly 56% cheaper than Canada on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Romania sits 23% below the global median, while Canada is 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Canada has a wider regional cost range ($1,320$3,077) than Romania ($802$1,374), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Canada.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Romania
Canada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40 RON 51.6
$18.77 CA$26.22
-39.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.17 RON 209
$74.2 CA$104
-37.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.85 RON 35.53
$11.25 CA$15.71
-30.22%
Cappuccino
$2.89 RON 13.06
$3.86 CA$5.39
-25.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 RON 8.81
$2.19 CA$3.06
-10.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 RON 8.41
$1.69 CA$2.36
10.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.79 RON 12.61
$5.96 CA$8.32
-53.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 RON 15.69
$5.91 CA$8.25
-41.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Romania
Canada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 RON 7.28
$2.29 CA$3.19
-29.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 RON 5.52
$2.76 CA$3.85
-55.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 RON 8.12
$3.60 CA$5.03
-50.00%
Eggs
$3.35 RON 15.16
$3.50 CA$4.89
-4.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.94 RON 40.45
$11.47 CA$16.01
-22.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.86 RON 31.01
$12.38 CA$17.30
-44.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.17 RON 50.5
$14.97 CA$20.90
-25.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.34
$4.22 CA$5.90
-72.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 RON 7.29
$1.51 CA$2.10
6.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 RON 7.47
$3.90 CA$5.45
-57.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 RON 10.09
$4.11 CA$5.73
-45.74%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 RON 4.16
$2.79 CA$3.90
-67.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.41
$2.62 CA$3.66
-62.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 RON 4.51
$2.66 CA$3.72
-62.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 RON 3.66
$1.82 CA$2.53
-55.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.24 RON 28.22
$14.71 CA$20.55
-57.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 RON 30.38
$12.87 CA$17.98
-47.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 RON 5.05
$3.02 CA$4.21
-62.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 RON 8.10
$3.39 CA$4.74
-47.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Romania
Canada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 RON 3.60
$2.59 CA$3.62
-69.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.67 RON 103
$78.1 CA$109
-70.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 RON 4.09
$3.56 CA$4.97
-74.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.16
$1.47 CA$2.05
-52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.04 RON 36.39
$29.11 CA$40.65
-72.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.65 RON 7.45
$1.17 CA$1.63
41.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K RON 127.7K
$24.6K CA$34.4K
14.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K RON 122.0K
$20.5K CA$28.6K
31.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Romania
Canada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 RON 727
$154 CA$215
4.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 RON 38.08
$46.20 CA$64.5
-81.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.59 RON 43.37
$63.1 CA$88.1
-84.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Romania
Canada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.78 RON 198
$42.87 CA$59.9
2.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.48 RON 92.6
$17.61 CA$24.60
16.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.30 RON 37.53
$11.46 CA$16.00
-27.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Romania
Canada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 RON 2,222
$813 CA$1,136
-39.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.0K RON 45.3K
$12.2K CA$17.1K
-18.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Romania
Canada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.8 RON 311
$56.3 CA$78.6
22.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.83 RON 189
$41.36 CA$57.8
1.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.4 RON 373
$89.0 CA$124
-7.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 RON 419
$106 CA$149
-12.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Romania
Canada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$495 RON 2,241
$1,380 CA$1,927
-64.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 RON 1,610
$1,182 CA$1,651
-69.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$823 RON 3,724
$2,125 CA$2,968
-61.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$603 RON 2,727
$1,889 CA$2,638
-68.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,582 RON 11.7K
$4,826 CA$6,740
-46.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,891 RON 8,556
$3,896 CA$5,441
-51.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Romania
Canada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,065 RON 4,816
$2,947 CA$4,115
-63.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
6.33
8.06%

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

Last update for Romania: June 8, 2026

Last update for Canada: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $392 in Romania vs $1,279 in Canada. For reference, capital cities sit at $644 in Bucharest and $1,500 in Ottawa.

Average salary: $891 in Romania vs $2,945 in Canada. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 226% higher in Canada.

Dining out costs 55% more in Canada.

Public transport is 225% more expensive in Canada.

Salaries are 231% higher in Canada, giving Canada 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 Canada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canada more expensive than Romania?
Romania is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 102% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Canada, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Canada consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Romania, contributing to the overall 102% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget in Canada or Romania?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Romania, but in Canada it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Canada 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

Similar countries