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: $839 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,434 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,355 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,168 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,870 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,901 in Bucharest.

Living in Sfantu Gheorghe costs roughly 41% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sfantu Gheorghe is 39% below, Bucharest is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.60 RON 38.81

$14.25 RON 64.4

-39.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.65 RON 202

$60.5 RON 273

-26.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 RON 34.76

$7.53 RON 33.98

2.26%

Cappuccino

$2.61 RON 11.78

$3.72 RON 16.80

-29.84%

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

$1.34 RON 6.05

$2.41 RON 10.89

-44.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 RON 4.88

$2.27 RON 10.26

-52.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 RON 11.71

$4.09 RON 18.45

-36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 RON 10.14

$4.32 RON 19.52

-47.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 RON 6.58

$1.78 RON 8.04

-17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 RON 5.27

$1.47 RON 6.63

-20.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.64

$1.81 RON 8.17

-18.78%

Eggs

$3.53 RON 15.93

$3.82 RON 17.24

-7.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 RON 36.59

$9.49 RON 42.84

-14.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 RON 21.69

$6.95 RON 31.38

-30.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.36 RON 37.76

$12.58 RON 56.8

-33.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.14 RON 5.14

$1.33 RON 5.99

-14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 RON 7.37

$1.65 RON 7.43

-1.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 RON 5.71

$1.61 RON 7.26

-21.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.69 RON 12.13

$2.69 RON 12.15

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 RON 3.15

$0.88 RON 3.97

-20.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 RON 2.86

$0.76 RON 3.43

-17.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 RON 4.86

$0.86 RON 3.90

25.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 RON 3.79

$0.98 RON 4.43

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 RON 23.21

$6.92 RON 31.24

-25.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.67 RON 34.63

$6.77 RON 30.56

13.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 RON 4.40

$1.29 RON 5.82

-24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 4.95

$1.73 RON 7.82

-36.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$0.85 RON 3.83

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.69 RON 75.4

$22.35 RON 101

-25.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 RON 4.61

$0.65 RON 2.93

56.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 RON 4.17

$0.69 RON 3.10

33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 RON 38.92

$6.84 RON 30.86

26.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.35

$2.03 RON 9.18

-19.70%

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

$30.1K RON 136.0K

$29.4K RON 132.8K

2.42%

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

$26.1K RON 117.7K

$27.6K RON 124.4K

-5.40%

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

$121 RON 545

$198 RON 894

-39.03%

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

$9.53 RON 43.03

$8.71 RON 39.34

9.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.11 RON 59.2

$10.07 RON 45.47

30.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.20 RON 191

$54.8 RON 247

-22.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.66 RON 97.8

$25.74 RON 116

-15.85%

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 RON 14.68

$8.74 RON 39.46

-62.81%

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

$462 RON 2,085

$648 RON 2,924

-28.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,059 RON 31.9K

$15.2K RON 68.5K

-53.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.74 RON 125

$95.7 RON 432

-71.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.43 RON 65.1

$40.35 RON 182

-64.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.29 RON 186

$81.2 RON 366

-49.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.4 RON 300

$101 RON 457

-34.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$304 RON 1,372

$702 RON 3,171

-56.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$224 RON 1,011

$487 RON 2,198

-53.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 RON 2,477

$1,143 RON 5,162

-52.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$408 RON 1,844

$754 RON 3,405

-45.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,934 RON 8,730

$4,032 RON 18.2K

-52.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,396 RON 6,302

$2,332 RON 10.5K

-40.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 RON 3,206

$1,535 RON 6,931

-53.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

6.82

-1.03%

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

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: September 5, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $702 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 116% 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: $45.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $60.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $235 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 71% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $1,434 including rent). Sfantu Gheorghe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 116% lower in Bucharest. 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: $304 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $702 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $839 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,434 in Bucharest – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sfantu Gheorghe runs roughly 34% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $839 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,434 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 71% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.