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: $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,361 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,388 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,177 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,880 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $2,994 in Bucharest.

Living in Sfantu Gheorghe costs roughly 34% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sfantu Gheorghe is 33% below, Bucharest is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.82 RON 40.45

$13.58 RON 62.3

-35.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.49 RON 186

$69.3 RON 318

-41.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 RON 42.41

$8.20 RON 37.61

12.80%

Cappuccino

$2.10 RON 9.63

$3.27 RON 15.01

-35.78%

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

$1.26 RON 5.78

$2.31 RON 10.59

-45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 RON 5.05

$2.33 RON 10.69

-52.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.27

$3.36 RON 15.41

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 RON 12.30

$3.84 RON 17.62

-30.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.08

$1.78 RON 8.14

-13.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.59

$1.36 RON 6.25

-10.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 RON 6.17

$1.93 RON 8.86

-30.05%

Eggs

$2.96 RON 13.59

$3.62 RON 16.61

-18.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 RON 39.29

$9.49 RON 43.50

-9.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.04 RON 18.52

$6.86 RON 31.44

-41.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.67 RON 58.1

$12.27 RON 56.2

3.26%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.54

$1.39 RON 6.38

-28.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 RON 6.32

$1.70 RON 7.80

-18.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 RON 5.76

$1.76 RON 8.05

-28.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 RON 8.81

$2.52 RON 11.53

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 RON 3.31

$1.04 RON 4.77

-30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.87 RON 4.01

$1.01 RON 4.64

-13.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 RON 3.68

$1.00 RON 4.57

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 RON 3.01

$0.95 RON 4.37

-30.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.55 RON 25.44

$6.32 RON 28.96

-12.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.20 RON 37.62

$6.35 RON 29.13

29.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 RON 4.91

$1.28 RON 5.85

-16.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.13

$2.00 RON 9.17

-44.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.31

$1.12 RON 5.12

-35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.93 RON 91.4

$19.43 RON 89.1

2.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 RON 4.40

$0.66 RON 3.03

45.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.16

$0.60 RON 2.77

15.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 RON 33.57

$6.81 RON 31.20

7.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.36

$1.72 RON 7.89

-6.98%

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

$28.0K RON 128.2K

$29.0K RON 133.2K

-3.76%

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

$27.8K RON 127.3K

$29.9K RON 137.1K

-7.13%

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

$169 RON 775

$179 RON 819

-5.29%

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

$8.67 RON 39.74

$8.77 RON 40.20

-1.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.68 RON 44.39

$11.15 RON 51.1

-13.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.14 RON 193

$54.8 RON 251

-23.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.52 RON 89.5

$29.28 RON 134

-33.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 RON 15.59

$9.41 RON 43.16

-63.87%

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

$429 RON 1,965

$668 RON 3,061

-35.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,965 RON 31.9K

$14.4K RON 66.0K

-51.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.73 RON 159

$80.6 RON 370

-56.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.61 RON 85.3

$44.84 RON 206

-58.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.49 RON 126

$89.4 RON 410

-69.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 RON 318

$109 RON 501

-36.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$315 RON 1,444

$657 RON 3,015

-52.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 RON 1,073

$432 RON 1,983

-45.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 RON 2,638

$1,334 RON 6,117

-56.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$435 RON 1,993

$857 RON 3,929

-49.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,938 RON 8,885

$3,890 RON 17.8K

-50.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,421 RON 6,515

$2,171 RON 9,953

-34.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$694 RON 3,183

$1,436 RON 6,583

-51.65%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe and $657 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 107% 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: $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe vs $69.0 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 52% in total monthly costs ($895 vs $1,361 including rent). Sfantu Gheorghe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 107% 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: $315 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $657 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $895 per month in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,361 in Bucharest – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sfantu Gheorghe runs roughly 3% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $895 in Sfantu Gheorghe versus $1,361 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 52% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.