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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Romania is roughly 166% more expensive than India on average.

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Romania
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53 RON 50.1
$2.58 ₹244
346.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.88 RON 200
$14.07 ₹1,332
226.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.15 RON 35.47
$4.14 ₹392
96.86%
Cappuccino
$2.88 RON 12.52
$1.81 ₹171
59.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 RON 8.86
$0.43 ₹40.80
374.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 RON 8.12
$0.16 ₹15.44
1068.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.78 RON 12.11
$1.96 ₹186
41.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 RON 15.19
$3.47 ₹329
0.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Romania
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 RON 6.72
$0.72 ₹68.3
113.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 RON 5.48
$0.49 ₹46.06
157.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 RON 7.56
$0.67 ₹63.6
159.70%
Eggs
$3.30 RON 14.37
$0.99 ₹93.7
233.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.79 RON 38.25
$5.14 ₹487
71.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.61 RON 28.75
$3.20 ₹303
106.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 RON 47.68
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 RON 5.28
$2.21 ₹209
-45.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 RON 7.22
$0.70 ₹66.1
137.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 RON 6.98
$1.05 ₹99.0
52.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 RON 9.40
$0.53 ₹49.89
307.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 RON 4.18
$0.43 ₹40.45
123.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 RON 4.26
$0.49 ₹45.99
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 RON 4.28
$0.52 ₹49.05
88.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 RON 3.53
$0.32 ₹30.71
153.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 RON 26.72
$4.13 ₹390
48.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.10 RON 30.87
$7.55 ₹714
-5.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 RON 5.02
$1.82 ₹172
-36.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 RON 7.86
$2.88 ₹273
-37.15%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.63 ₹533
-
🚌 Getting Around
Romania
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 RON 3.66
$0.34 ₹31.76
147.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.62 RON 98.4
$9.70 ₹918
133.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 RON 3.85
$0.97 ₹91.5
-8.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 RON 3.06
$0.28 ₹26.17
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.95 RON 34.57
$1.70 ₹160
367.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 RON 6.93
$1.23 ₹117
29.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K RON 123.2K
$13.7K ₹1.3M
106.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K RON 119.9K
$23.0K ₹2.2M
19.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Romania
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$165 RON 716
$40.37 ₹3,819
307.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.34 RON 36.29
$3.90 ₹369
113.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.05 RON 43.70
$7.98 ₹755
25.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Romania
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.04 RON 196
$16.26 ₹1,538
177.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.01 RON 91.4
$7.63 ₹722
175.36%
Cinema Ticket
$8.22 RON 35.74
$3.56 ₹336
130.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Romania
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$497 RON 2,164
$70.8 ₹6,695
602.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,905 RON 43.1K
$1,810 ₹171.2K
447.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Romania
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1 RON 305
$24.95 ₹2,361
180.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.52 RON 176
$26.83 ₹2,539
51.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.7 RON 360
$45.39 ₹4,294
82.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.9 RON 400
$33.38 ₹3,159
175.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Romania
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$496 RON 2,156
$173 ₹16.3K
187.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 RON 1,587
$113 ₹10.7K
222.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$844 RON 3,673
$412 ₹39.0K
104.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$612 RON 2,663
$257 ₹24.3K
137.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,641 RON 11.5K
$1,260 ₹119.2K
109.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,965 RON 8,546
$631 ₹59.7K
211.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Romania
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,099 RON 4,780
$432 ₹40.9K
154.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.84
9.02
-24.17%

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

Last update for Romania: April 25, 2026

Last update for India: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

National salary averages: $924 in Romania, $401 in India. 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
Romania vs India: 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.

Romania vs other spots: cost of living compared

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