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: $1,013 in Targu Jiu versus $1,361 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,622 in Targu Jiu versus $2,177 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,231 in Targu Jiu versus $2,994 in Bucharest.

Living in Targu Jiu costs roughly 26% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Targu Jiu is 24% below, Bucharest is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.84 RON 63.4

$13.58 RON 62.2

1.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.8 RON 310

$69.3 RON 317

-2.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 RON 37.19

$8.20 RON 37.55

-0.98%

Cappuccino

$3.32 RON 15.18

$3.27 RON 14.98

1.53%

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

$1.13 RON 5.15

$2.31 RON 10.57

-51.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 RON 11.00

$2.33 RON 10.67

3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 RON 15.33

$3.36 RON 15.39

-0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 RON 18.15

$3.84 RON 17.59

3.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 RON 8.11

$1.78 RON 8.13

-0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 RON 6.50

$1.36 RON 6.25

4.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 RON 8.48

$1.93 RON 8.85

-4.15%

Eggs

$3.02 RON 13.83

$3.62 RON 16.59

-16.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.97 RON 36.47

$9.49 RON 43.43

-16.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 RON 14.46

$6.86 RON 31.40

-53.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 RON 35.20

$12.27 RON 56.2

-37.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.68

$1.39 RON 6.37

-26.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 RON 7.21

$1.70 RON 7.79

-7.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 RON 5.97

$1.76 RON 8.04

-26.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 RON 6.42

$2.52 RON 11.52

-44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.14

$1.04 RON 4.76

-13.46%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.48

$1.01 RON 4.63

-2.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 RON 3.02

$1.00 RON 4.56

-34.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 RON 2.74

$0.95 RON 4.37

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.66 RON 25.92

$6.32 RON 28.91

-10.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.12 RON 14.30

$6.35 RON 29.09

-50.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RON 4.39

$1.28 RON 5.84

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 RON 5.34

$2.00 RON 9.15

-41.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 RON 3.21

$1.12 RON 5.11

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.96 RON 91.4

$19.43 RON 89.0

2.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.07

$0.66 RON 3.03

1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 RON 2.77

$0.60 RON 2.77

1.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.73 RON 30.83

$6.81 RON 31.16

-1.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.69 RON 7.73

$1.72 RON 7.88

-1.74%

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

$29.2K RON 133.6K

$29.0K RON 133.0K

0.47%

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

$30.7K RON 140.6K

$29.9K RON 136.9K

2.67%

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

$178 RON 814

$179 RON 818

-0.45%

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

$6.63 RON 30.35

$8.77 RON 40.15

-24.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.21 RON 46.75

$11.15 RON 51.0

-8.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.73 RON 187

$54.8 RON 251

-25.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.42 RON 88.9

$29.28 RON 134

-33.67%

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 RON 42.25

$9.41 RON 43.10

-1.91%

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

$657 RON 3,009

$668 RON 3,057

-1.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K RON 67.6K

$14.4K RON 65.9K

2.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 RON 248

$80.6 RON 369

-32.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 RON 128

$44.84 RON 205

-37.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.3 RON 262

$89.4 RON 409

-35.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.9 RON 430

$109 RON 501

-14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$376 RON 1,721

$657 RON 3,010

-42.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 RON 1,167

$432 RON 1,980

-41.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 RON 2,385

$1,334 RON 6,109

-60.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 RON 1,980

$857 RON 3,924

-49.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,646 RON 12.1K

$3,890 RON 17.8K

-31.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,171 RON 9,939

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$554 RON 2,535

$1,436 RON 6,574

-61.44%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $376 in Targu Jiu and $657 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 159% 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 $69.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 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 34% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $1,361 including rent). Targu Jiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 159% 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: $376 in Targu Jiu versus $657 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Targu Jiu versus $1,361 in Bucharest – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,013 in Targu Jiu versus $1,361 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 34% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.