Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Bucharest Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfantu Gheorghe and Bucharest

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $907 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,355 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,386 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,137 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,866 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,918 in Bucharest.

Living in Sfantu Gheorghe costs roughly 33% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sfantu Gheorghe is 32% below, Bucharest is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.62 RON 37.39

$13.58 RON 58.9

-36.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.74 RON 177

$69.5 RON 301

-41.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 RON 38.21

$8.03 RON 34.84

9.59%

Cappuccino

$2.03 RON 8.81

$3.42 RON 14.86

-40.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 RON 5.53

$2.33 RON 10.13

-45.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 RON 5.03

$2.32 RON 10.09

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 RON 9.35

$3.51 RON 15.21

-38.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 RON 12.22

$3.82 RON 16.60

-26.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 RON 7.04

$1.71 RON 7.41

-5.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 RON 5.03

$1.41 RON 6.13

-17.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.06

$1.83 RON 7.95

-23.50%

Eggs

$2.95 RON 12.79

$3.52 RON 15.29

-16.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 RON 37.98

$9.42 RON 40.90

-7.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 RON 18.23

$7.09 RON 30.77

-40.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.41 RON 53.9

$12.28 RON 53.3

1.06%

Apples (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.26

$1.34 RON 5.82

-26.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 RON 5.93

$1.72 RON 7.47

-20.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 RON 5.37

$1.77 RON 7.67

-29.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 RON 8.33

$2.39 RON 10.37

-19.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.13

$1.04 RON 4.52

-30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 RON 3.96

$0.98 RON 4.25

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 RON 3.40

$0.93 RON 4.04

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 RON 2.95

$0.96 RON 4.18

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 RON 24.26

$6.28 RON 27.26

-10.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 RON 34.37

$7.24 RON 31.42

9.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 RON 4.55

$1.24 RON 5.37

-15.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 RON 5.12

$2.02 RON 8.76

-41.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 2.89

$1.18 RON 5.11

-43.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.90 RON 86.4

$19.62 RON 85.2

1.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 RON 3.91

$0.66 RON 2.88

36.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 RON 3.22

$0.60 RON 2.62

23.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.39 RON 32.09

$7.08 RON 30.74

4.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 6.99

$1.67 RON 7.23

-3.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.5K RON 123.6K

$28.4K RON 123.3K

0.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K RON 121.4K

$30.5K RON 132.2K

-8.17%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 RON 735

$182 RON 791

-7.02%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.86 RON 38.46

$8.93 RON 38.74

-0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.08 RON 43.74

$11.15 RON 48.37

-9.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.75 RON 177

$54.3 RON 235

-24.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.83 RON 81.7

$28.96 RON 126

-34.98%

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 RON 14.67

$9.19 RON 39.89

-63.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$427 RON 1,855

$662 RON 2,873

-35.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,995 RON 30.4K

$14.4K RON 62.7K

-51.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.39 RON 149

$79.5 RON 345

-56.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 RON 78.7

$45.22 RON 196

-59.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$28.09 RON 122

$91.1 RON 395

-69.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.0 RON 304

$110 RON 477

-36.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,368

$661 RON 2,869

-52.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 RON 990

$429 RON 1,863

-46.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$572 RON 2,483

$1,352 RON 5,869

-57.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 RON 1,906

$851 RON 3,691

-48.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,830 RON 7,942

$4,026 RON 17.5K

-54.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,373 RON 5,960

$2,284 RON 9,911

-39.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$759 RON 3,296

$1,522 RON 6,605

-50.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

7.1

-4.93%

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

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $661 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 100% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $41 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $69 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $234 per month, with Sfantu Gheorghe cheaper across the board.

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

Sfantu Gheorghe vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sfantu Gheorghe and Bucharest differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($907 vs $1,355 including rent). Sfantu Gheorghe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bucharest earns 100% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $661 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $907 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,355 in Bucharest – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sfantu Gheorghe runs roughly 1% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $907 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,355 in Bucharest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfantu Gheorghe but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Sfantu Gheorghe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Sfantu Gheorghe 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.

Expats usually find Sfantu Gheorghe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.