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: $1,036 in Targu Jiu versus $1,434 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,614 in Targu Jiu versus $2,168 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Targu Jiu versus $2,901 in Bucharest.

Living in Targu Jiu costs roughly 28% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Jiu is 25% below, Bucharest is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.26 RON 64.6

$14.25 RON 64.6

0.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 RON 279

$60.5 RON 274

1.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 RON 34.15

$7.53 RON 34.09

0.13%

Cappuccino

$3.58 RON 16.23

$3.72 RON 16.85

-3.76%

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

$1.13 RON 5.12

$2.41 RON 10.92

-53.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 RON 10.70

$2.27 RON 10.29

3.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.87 RON 17.53

$4.09 RON 18.51

-5.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 RON 20.61

$4.32 RON 19.58

5.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 RON 8.13

$1.78 RON 8.06

1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.41

$1.47 RON 6.65

-3.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 RON 7.80

$1.81 RON 8.20

-4.97%

Eggs

$2.88 RON 13.02

$3.82 RON 17.29

-24.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 RON 36.06

$9.49 RON 42.97

-16.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 RON 13.88

$6.95 RON 31.48

-55.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.58 RON 34.33

$12.58 RON 57.0

-39.75%

Apples (1kg)

$0.99 RON 4.47

$1.33 RON 6.01

-25.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.65 RON 7.45

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 RON 5.48

$1.61 RON 7.28

-24.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 RON 5.90

$2.69 RON 12.18

-51.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 RON 3.71

$0.88 RON 3.99

-6.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.43

$0.76 RON 3.44

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 RON 3.09

$0.86 RON 3.91

-20.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 RON 2.43

$0.98 RON 4.44

-44.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.44 RON 24.65

$6.92 RON 31.34

-21.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.09 RON 13.98

$6.77 RON 30.66

-54.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 RON 3.89

$1.29 RON 5.83

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.09

$1.73 RON 7.84

-35.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 RON 3.70

$0.85 RON 3.84

-3.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.14 RON 91.2

$22.35 RON 101

-9.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$0.65 RON 2.94

3.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.13

$0.69 RON 3.11

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 RON 30.34

$6.84 RON 30.96

-2.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 RON 7.14

$2.03 RON 9.21

-22.17%

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

$30.1K RON 136.5K

$29.4K RON 133.2K

2.43%

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

$28.4K RON 128.4K

$27.6K RON 124.8K

2.90%

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

$201 RON 909

$198 RON 896

1.39%

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

$6.28 RON 28.43

$8.71 RON 39.47

-27.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 RON 44.92

$10.07 RON 45.61

-1.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.76 RON 180

$54.8 RON 248

-27.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.70 RON 89.2

$25.74 RON 117

-23.47%

Cinema Ticket

$8.83 RON 39.98

$8.74 RON 39.58

1.03%

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

$648 RON 2,934

0.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,186 RON 32.5K

$15.2K RON 68.7K

-52.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 RON 242

$95.7 RON 433

-44.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.35 RON 119

$40.35 RON 183

-34.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 RON 246

$81.2 RON 368

-33.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.3 RON 395

$101 RON 458

-13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 RON 1,630

$702 RON 3,181

-48.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 RON 1,131

$487 RON 2,205

-48.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 RON 2,267

$1,143 RON 5,179

-56.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 RON 1,888

$754 RON 3,416

-44.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,916 RON 8,679

$4,032 RON 18.3K

-52.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,268 RON 5,741

$2,332 RON 10.6K

-45.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 RON 2,515

$1,535 RON 6,953

-63.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

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

Last update for Targu Jiu: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Targu Jiu and $702 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 177% 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: $62.0 in Targu Jiu vs $60.0 in Bucharest. Groceries flip the comparison at $164 vs $235, with Targu Jiu cheaper for home cooking.

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 38% in total monthly costs ($1,036 vs $1,434 including rent). Targu Jiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 177% 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: $360 in Targu Jiu versus $702 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,036 per month in Targu Jiu versus $1,434 in Bucharest – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Jiu runs roughly 11% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,036 in Targu Jiu versus $1,434 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 38% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.