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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Targu Mures versus $1,331 in Bucharest.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,549 in Targu Mures versus $2,166 in Bucharest.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,037 in Targu Mures versus $3,000 in Bucharest.

Living in Targu Mures costs roughly 20% less than in Bucharest, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Targu Mures 21% lower, Bucharest 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.79 RON 39.91

$13.87 RON 63.0

-36.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.85 RON 185

$70.0 RON 318

-41.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 RON 39.86

$8.23 RON 37.37

6.68%

Cappuccino

$2.28 RON 10.35

$3.45 RON 15.65

-33.91%

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

$1.26 RON 5.72

$2.33 RON 10.58

-45.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 RON 5.24

$2.31 RON 10.51

-50.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 RON 9.81

$3.51 RON 15.94

-38.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 RON 12.34

$3.79 RON 17.22

-28.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 RON 7.27

$1.78 RON 8.09

-10.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 RON 5.51

$1.43 RON 6.49

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.83 RON 8.31

-13.11%

Eggs

$2.98 RON 13.53

$3.53 RON 16.04

-15.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 RON 40.26

$9.61 RON 43.62

-7.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 RON 31.36

$6.92 RON 31.39

-0.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.30 RON 55.9

$12.27 RON 55.7

0.24%

Apples (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.41

$1.39 RON 6.32

-30.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 RON 6.01

$1.72 RON 7.79

-23.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 RON 6.74

$1.75 RON 7.95

-14.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.68

$2.40 RON 10.89

-20.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 RON 3.97

$1.04 RON 4.71

-16.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.02

$0.96 RON 4.38

-7.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 RON 3.58

$0.98 RON 4.47

-19.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 RON 3.66

$0.91 RON 4.13

-10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 RON 27.52

$6.35 RON 28.83

-4.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.80 RON 35.41

$6.62 RON 30.05

17.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 RON 4.74

$1.22 RON 5.56

-14.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 RON 7.62

$2.01 RON 9.11

-16.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 RON 2.70

$1.12 RON 5.07

-47.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.77 RON 67.1

$19.94 RON 90.5

-25.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 RON 4.01

$0.70 RON 3.20

25.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 RON 3.24

$0.66 RON 2.98

7.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.50 RON 34.06

$6.79 RON 30.85

10.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.91

$1.73 RON 7.84

-12.14%

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

$27.5K RON 124.8K

$29.1K RON 132.0K

-5.47%

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

$27.9K RON 126.8K

$30.4K RON 137.9K

-8.07%

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

$169 RON 766

$178 RON 807

-5.15%

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

$8.60 RON 39.05

$9.16 RON 41.60

-6.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.90 RON 44.96

$11.22 RON 50.9

-11.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.97 RON 213

$55.2 RON 251

-14.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.22 RON 82.7

$29.55 RON 134

-38.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.67 RON 25.73

$8.96 RON 40.66

-36.72%

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

$1,378 RON 6,254

$657 RON 2,984

109.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,946 RON 31.5K

$14.5K RON 66.0K

-52.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.2 RON 328

$81.4 RON 370

-11.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.87 RON 149

$45.88 RON 208

-28.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 RON 328

$89.4 RON 406

-19.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 RON 371

$109 RON 497

-25.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 RON 1,996

$644 RON 2,925

-31.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 RON 1,415

$444 RON 2,014

-29.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 RON 2,576

$1,343 RON 6,095

-57.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 RON 1,810

$847 RON 3,847

-52.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,355 RON 10.7K

$3,941 RON 17.9K

-40.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,505 RON 6,830

$2,248 RON 10.2K

-33.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,066 RON 4,840

$1,425 RON 6,467

-25.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.17

7.1

15.07%

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

Last update for Targu Mures: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bucharest: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Targu Mures and $644 in Bucharest. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bucharest pays 34% 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: $41.00 in Targu Mures vs $70.0 in Bucharest for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $233 per month, with Targu Mures 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 Mures vs Bucharest: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Targu Mures and Bucharest differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,061 vs $1,331 including rent). Targu Mures is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bucharest earns 34% 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: $440 in Targu Mures versus $644 in Bucharest. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Targu Mures versus $1,331 in Bucharest – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Targu Mures runs roughly 35% less than in Bucharest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,061 in Targu Mures versus $1,331 in Bucharest, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Targu Mures but tight or insufficient in Bucharest. The gap between the two cities makes Targu Mures 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, Targu Mures 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 Targu Mures gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Bucharest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.