Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Jiu and Bucharest Cost of Living Comparison Between Targu Jiu and Bucharest

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,039 in Targu Jiu versus $1,355 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,627 in Targu Jiu versus $2,137 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,214 in Targu Jiu versus $2,918 in Bucharest.

Living in Targu Jiu costs roughly 23% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Jiu is 22% below, Bucharest is 1% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.93 RON 60.5

$13.58 RON 58.9

2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.5 RON 297

$69.5 RON 301

-1.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.09 RON 35.10

$8.03 RON 34.84

0.75%

Cappuccino

$3.44 RON 14.93

$3.42 RON 14.86

0.58%

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

$1.17 RON 5.07

$2.33 RON 10.13

-49.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 RON 9.94

$2.32 RON 10.09

-1.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.52 RON 15.29

$3.51 RON 15.21

0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 RON 16.71

$3.82 RON 16.60

0.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 RON 7.58

$1.71 RON 7.41

2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 RON 6.20

$1.41 RON 6.13

1.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 RON 8.32

$1.83 RON 7.95

4.92%

Eggs

$3.08 RON 13.38

$3.52 RON 15.29

-12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 RON 34.59

$9.42 RON 40.90

-15.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 RON 14.31

$7.09 RON 30.77

-53.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 RON 34.95

$12.28 RON 53.3

-34.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.43

$1.34 RON 5.82

-23.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.14

$1.72 RON 7.47

-4.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 RON 5.41

$1.77 RON 7.67

-29.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 RON 5.93

$2.39 RON 10.37

-42.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 RON 4.08

$1.04 RON 4.52

-9.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 RON 4.17

$0.98 RON 4.25

-2.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 RON 3.06

$0.93 RON 4.04

-24.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 RON 2.45

$0.96 RON 4.18

-41.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.66 RON 24.55

$6.28 RON 27.26

-9.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.24 RON 14.06

$7.24 RON 31.42

-55.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 RON 4.06

$1.24 RON 5.37

-24.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 4.86

$2.02 RON 8.76

-44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 RON 3.11

$1.18 RON 5.11

-38.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.69 RON 85.4

$19.62 RON 85.2

0.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 RON 3.05

$0.66 RON 2.88

6.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.64

$0.60 RON 2.62

1.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.01 RON 30.42

$7.08 RON 30.74

-0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 RON 7.25

$1.67 RON 7.23

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

$28.8K RON 125.2K

$28.4K RON 123.3K

1.54%

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

$29.9K RON 129.8K

$30.5K RON 132.2K

-1.81%

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

$178 RON 771

$182 RON 791

-2.52%

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

$6.41 RON 27.82

$8.93 RON 38.74

-28.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.25 RON 44.49

$11.15 RON 48.37

-8.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.67 RON 181

$54.3 RON 235

-23.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.38 RON 84.1

$28.96 RON 126

-33.08%

Cinema Ticket

$9.38 RON 40.71

$9.19 RON 39.89

2.07%

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

$670 RON 2,906

$662 RON 2,873

1.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K RON 63.0K

$14.4K RON 62.7K

0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 RON 242

$79.5 RON 345

-29.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 RON 118

$45.22 RON 196

-39.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.8 RON 247

$91.1 RON 395

-37.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.7 RON 407

$110 RON 477

-14.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$375 RON 1,627

$661 RON 2,869

-43.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 RON 1,084

$429 RON 1,863

-41.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 RON 2,287

$1,352 RON 5,869

-61.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,911

$851 RON 3,691

-48.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 RON 12.1K

$4,026 RON 17.5K

-30.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,284 RON 9,911

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$565 RON 2,454

$1,522 RON 6,605

-62.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

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

Last update for Targu Jiu: April 21, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $375 in Targu Jiu and $661 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 169% 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: $68 in Targu Jiu vs $69 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $234 per month, with Targu Jiu 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

Targu Jiu vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Jiu and Bucharest differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,039 vs $1,355 including rent). Targu Jiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bucharest earns 169% 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: $375 in Targu Jiu versus $661 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,039 per month in Targu Jiu versus $1,355 in Bucharest – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Jiu runs roughly 0% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,039 in Targu Jiu versus $1,355 in Bucharest, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Jiu but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Jiu 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.

Expats usually find Targu Jiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.