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: $1,027 in Targu Jiu versus $1,336 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Targu Jiu versus $2,162 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,255 in Targu Jiu versus $2,988 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 23% below, Bucharest is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.95 RON 63.4

$13.58 RON 61.8

2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.1 RON 310

-0.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.01 RON 36.41

$8.05 RON 36.58

-0.50%

Cappuccino

$3.35 RON 15.25

$3.40 RON 15.45

-1.47%

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

$1.13 RON 5.13

$2.32 RON 10.56

-51.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 RON 10.91

$2.38 RON 10.80

0.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.53 RON 16.02

$3.54 RON 16.08

-0.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 RON 17.56

$4.01 RON 18.24

-3.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 RON 7.89

$1.74 RON 7.92

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 RON 6.24

$1.42 RON 6.45

-3.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.70

$1.93 RON 8.77

-1.04%

Eggs

$3.01 RON 13.67

$3.54 RON 16.08

-14.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.93 RON 36.03

$9.27 RON 42.13

-14.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 RON 14.42

$7.13 RON 32.39

-55.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 RON 36.28

$12.28 RON 55.8

-35.02%

Apples (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.60

$1.35 RON 6.15

-25.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 RON 7.44

$1.74 RON 7.90

-5.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 RON 5.72

$1.76 RON 8.02

-28.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 RON 6.11

$2.40 RON 10.89

-44.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 RON 4.00

$1.05 RON 4.75

-16.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.60

$0.96 RON 4.37

5.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$0.92 RON 4.17

-27.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 RON 2.69

$0.91 RON 4.12

-35.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.60 RON 25.48

$6.38 RON 28.98

-12.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.03 RON 13.76

$6.45 RON 29.32

-53.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 RON 4.31

$1.22 RON 5.54

-22.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 RON 5.15

$1.98 RON 9.00

-42.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 RON 3.05

$1.16 RON 5.30

-42.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.17 RON 91.7

$19.48 RON 88.5

3.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.72 RON 3.29

$0.72 RON 3.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.79

$0.62 RON 2.81

-1.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.85 RON 31.12

$6.94 RON 31.53

-1.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 RON 7.65

$1.71 RON 7.79

-1.75%

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

$28.8K RON 131.1K

$29.0K RON 131.7K

-0.45%

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

$30.8K RON 139.9K

$30.3K RON 137.7K

1.57%

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

$179 RON 813

$178 RON 808

0.64%

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

$6.43 RON 29.24

$9.16 RON 41.63

-29.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.49 RON 47.70

$11.12 RON 50.5

-5.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.16 RON 187

$54.7 RON 248

-24.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.45 RON 88.4

$29.04 RON 132

-33.02%

Cinema Ticket

$9.29 RON 42.21

$9.27 RON 42.15

0.22%

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

$656 RON 2,982

$677 RON 3,077

-3.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K RON 66.2K

$14.9K RON 67.5K

-1.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 RON 252

$79.8 RON 363

-30.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 RON 128

$45.29 RON 206

-37.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.0 RON 259

$89.2 RON 405

-36.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 RON 417

$109 RON 496

-15.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$374 RON 1,702

$662 RON 3,009

-43.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 RON 1,164

$432 RON 1,964

-40.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 RON 2,374

$1,355 RON 6,161

-61.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,966

$841 RON 3,823

-48.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,632 RON 12.0K

$3,857 RON 17.5K

-31.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,305 RON 10.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$544 RON 2,474

$1,463 RON 6,652

-62.80%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $374 in Targu Jiu and $662 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: $68.0 in Targu Jiu vs $68.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $233 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 ($1,027 vs $1,336 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: $374 in Targu Jiu versus $662 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,027 per month in Targu Jiu versus $1,336 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 4% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,027 in Targu Jiu versus $1,336 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.