Cost of Living in Romania - Updated Prices & Insights

Name: Romania
Address: RO

Monthly Cost of Living

Average monthly costs for a single person come to about $1,037 including rent across Romania.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,584 including rent across Romania.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,130 including rent across Romania.

Living costs in Romania vary widely – from $800 in more affordable cities to $1,387 in major hubs, spanning a $587 range across 77 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 RON 51.5

$6.84 RON 30.93

$18.24 RON 82.4

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.01 RON 208

$34.51 RON 156

$92.0 RON 416

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 RON 37.24

$7.06 RON 31.93

$9.41 RON 42.56

Cappuccino

$2.87 RON 12.98

$1.59 RON 7.21

$4.56 RON 20.63

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

$2.04 RON 9.21

$1.17 RON 5.30

$3.52 RON 15.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 RON 8.48

$1.17 RON 5.30

$2.81 RON 12.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 RON 12.53

$1.39 RON 6.27

$4.16 RON 18.80

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 RON 15.34

$2.26 RON 10.22

$4.53 RON 20.49

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 RON 7.30

$1.18 RON 5.31

$2.35 RON 10.62

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 RON 5.54

$0.79 RON 3.59

$2.03 RON 9.17

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 RON 8.04

$1.16 RON 5.26

$2.56 RON 11.56

Eggs

$3.38 RON 15.28

$2.18 RON 9.85

$4.54 RON 20.53

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 RON 40.42

$5.79 RON 26.19

$13.90 RON 62.8

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.87 RON 31.06

$4.43 RON 20.01

$8.15 RON 36.82

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 RON 49.44

$6.82 RON 30.83

$17.05 RON 77.1

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 RON 5.48

$0.70 RON 3.15

$1.86 RON 8.40

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 RON 7.50

$1.40 RON 6.31

$2.33 RON 10.52

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 RON 7.20

$1.12 RON 5.08

$2.47 RON 11.17

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 RON 10.30

$1.18 RON 5.34

$3.54 RON 16.01

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 RON 4.45

$0.61 RON 2.74

$1.44 RON 6.53

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 RON 4.41

$0.67 RON 3.04

$1.35 RON 6.08

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 RON 4.47

$0.60 RON 2.73

$1.44 RON 6.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 RON 3.92

$0.60 RON 2.71

$1.31 RON 5.93

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 RON 27.53

$5.64 RON 25.49

$6.76 RON 30.58

Wine (Bottle)

$6.66 RON 30.12

$4.44 RON 20.06

$11.11 RON 50.2

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.05

$0.79 RON 3.58

$1.80 RON 8.14

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 RON 8.10

$1.16 RON 5.23

$2.78 RON 12.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 RON 3.84

$0.72 RON 3.27

$1.20 RON 5.45

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.77 RON 103

$18.22 RON 82.3

$34.16 RON 154

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 RON 4.30

$0.71 RON 3.22

$1.19 RON 5.37

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 RON 3.43

$0.64 RON 2.91

$1.08 RON 4.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.82 RON 35.36

$5.80 RON 26.21

$11.53 RON 52.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.67 RON 7.54

$1.54 RON 6.98

$1.85 RON 8.38

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

$27.9K RON 126.0K

$27.5K RON 124.2K

$28.6K RON 129.1K

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

$27.4K RON 123.9K

$26.4K RON 119.2K

$31.1K RON 140.4K

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

$165 RON 746

$117 RON 528

$266 RON 1,201

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

$8.41 RON 38.00

$4.62 RON 20.88

$13.85 RON 62.6

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.03 RON 45.36

$7.08 RON 32.01

$17.70 RON 80.0

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.18 RON 200

$27.42 RON 124

$68.6 RON 310

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.75 RON 93.8

$11.46 RON 51.8

$34.38 RON 155

Cinema Ticket

$7.94 RON 35.88

$5.67 RON 25.64

$11.33 RON 51.2

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

$491 RON 2,218

$340 RON 1,536

$793 RON 3,584

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K RON 46.0K

$6,985 RON 31.6K

$19.3K RON 87.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 RON 317

$30.14 RON 136

$123 RON 556

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.99 RON 185

$22.94 RON 104

$68.8 RON 311

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 RON 373

$57.2 RON 258

$114 RON 517

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.0 RON 416

$68.4 RON 309

$137 RON 619

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 RON 2,253

$350 RON 1,584

$817 RON 3,695

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 RON 1,610

$229 RON 1,034

$572 RON 2,585

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 RON 3,808

$533 RON 2,411

$1,415 RON 6,395

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 RON 2,676

$399 RON 1,803

$1,020 RON 4,612

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,661 RON 12.0K

$1,690 RON 7,639

$4,633 RON 20.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,945 RON 8,790

$1,343 RON 6,073

$3,386 RON 15.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,049 RON 4,742

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.84

5.59

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

Last update: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $391 across Romania. For reference, capital rent is $662 in Bucharest, and $206 in Miercurea Ciuc.

National average salary: $897. With average costs at $1,037, the gap is significant. Expats and remote workers with foreign income benefit most.

Expect to spend about $205 monthly on groceries. Dining out at a mid-range restaurant averages $44.00 for two.

In Bucharest (capital), expect about $1,336 per month, while Miercurea Ciuc offers the lowest costs at $800 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,037) is 23% below the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($391) is 38% below the global median of $627.

Public transport ($21.00) is 36% below the global median of $33.00.

By City in Romania

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Alba Iulia	63536	48	$593	$962	$1,224	$1,967	60.71	231.2
2	Alexandria	45434	43	$564	$860	$1,333	$1,978	94.28	259.74
3	Arad	159074	44	$476	$884	$1,408	$1,904	299.13	302.01
4	Bacau	144307	45	$610	$912	$1,686	$2,037	32.5	295.75
5	Baia Mare	123738	44	$557	$899	$1,627	$1,914	109.19	249.47
6	Baia Sprie	11735	49	$570	$966	$1,335	$1,956	204.68	275.33
7	Barlad	77518	52	$590	$1,025	$1,455	$2,150	25.01	253.78
8	Bistrita	75076	46	$552	$907	$1,327	$1,943	234.54	300.31
9	Bolintin-Vale	12000	57	$670	$1,148	$1,502	$2,325	236.49	164.89
10	Botosani	106847	52	$527	$1,032	$1,544	$2,066	210.36	270.56
11	Bragadiru	15000	57	$718	$1,132	$1,810	$2,457	105.92	294.77
12	Braila	180302	55	$656	$1,110	$1,750	$2,230	344.89	269.04
13	Brasov	253200	64	$672	$1,265	$1,931	$2,675	22.03	275.92
14	Bucharest	1883425	67	$654	$1,336	$2,085	$2,988	77.6	320.25
15	Buzau	115494	55	$629	$1,096	$1,542	$2,066	124.83	239.01
16	Buzias	7000	56	$594	$1,109	$1,773	$2,304	70.59	205.05
17	Calafat	18500	52	$525	$1,050	$1,254	$2,083	217.87	109.49
18	Calarasi	65181	50	$535	$989	$1,566	$1,964	51.9	251.11
19	Campina	41554	53	$650	$1,076	$1,769	$2,174	51.32	293.02
20	Carei	25911	52	$595	$1,047	$1,719	$2,087	241.26	244.17
21	Chitila	10866	58	$785	$1,139	$1,987	$2,451	30.63	274.79
22	Cluj-Napoca	324576	70	$763	$1,387	$1,717	$2,860	63.39	331.04
23	Constanta	283872	66	$585	$1,342	$1,849	$2,858	284.14	264.33
24	Craiova	269506	56	$588	$1,126	$1,487	$2,198	68.5	262.58
25	Cugir	28780	48	$465	$951	$1,351	$1,854	59.03	262.61
26	Dealu	3800	56	$694	$1,119	$1,692	$2,357	36.06	118.26
27	Deva	61123	44	$481	$884	$1,345	$1,802	153.45	284.13
28	Dorohoi	32778	51	$632	$1,001	$1,475	$2,068	126.42	214.37
29	Drobeta-Turnu Severin	92617	54	$717	$1,066	$1,914	$2,482	30.47	241.37
30	Focsani	97186	48	$536	$948	$1,398	$1,938	117.07	252.78
31	Galati	249432	56	$630	$1,131	$1,526	$2,285	101.93	255.36
32	Giurgiu	61353	57	$585	$1,118	$1,516	$2,325	187.8	250.46
33	Hunedoara	78675	42	$430	$832	$1,224	$1,739	60.11	259.68
34	Iasi	290422	57	$550	$1,137	$1,773	$2,303	71.48	333.42
35	Iernut	9000	51	$489	$1,033	$1,326	$2,029	15.75	253.99
36	Lehliu Gara	6000	53	$675	$1,052	$1,484	$2,144	199.85	194.52
37	Lugoj	49742	42	$424	$843	$1,113	$1,706	124.21	188.29
38	Mamaia	441	52	$585	$1,019	$1,539	$2,155	257.36	255.76
39	Mangalia	36364	52	$644	$1,022	$1,497	$2,103	36.22	275.97
40	Medias	53564	56	$700	$1,105	$1,630	$2,280	102.78	283.08
41	Miercurea Ciuc	38966	40	$495	$800	$1,267	$1,751	212.29	212.32
42	Miroslava	11000	54	$543	$1,088	$1,622	$2,185	122.24	333.84
43	Odorheiu Secuiesc	34275	53	$632	$1,060	$1,655	$2,131	64.12	203.18
44	Onesti	57333	49	$472	$989	$1,155	$1,948	32.11	204.21
45	Oradea	196367	54	$604	$1,065	$1,633	$2,188	254.76	300.54
46	Pascani	35897	57	$669	$1,132	$1,771	$2,306	154.85	233.39
47	Petrosani	51476	57	$689	$1,123	$1,601	$2,290	96.51	282.58
48	Piatra Neamt	85055	47	$570	$932	$1,391	$1,957	313.07	324.88
49	Pitesti	155383	53	$709	$1,055	$1,415	$2,096	144.93	269.77
50	Ploiesti	224406	55	$567	$1,113	$1,674	$2,131	46.37	290.84

Romania Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living in Romania - Frequently Asked Questions

Romania offers a mix of affordable basics and comfortable lifestyle options for travelers, expats, and digital nomads. The Cost of Living in Romania tends to be lower than in many Western cities, with price variation by city and neighborhood. Expect cheaper meals, transit, and local services outside the capital, while central hubs can feel pricier but still reasonable by global standards. Housing runs from modern serviced apartments to older, character-rich options, and long-term leases are common in major towns. Seasonal tourism and a growing coworking scene support flexible work and daily life. Tip: map out neighborhoods by vibe and amenities before choosing a base.

Daily life in Romania blends affordability with a rich local scene, especially around markets, cafes, and parks. Housing search typically centers on neighborhoods with good transit access; you’ll find a mix of newer rentals and charming, older buildings near universities or city centers. Food options range from inexpensive street meals to diverse grocery stores and farmers markets, making it easy to cook at home. Public transport is reliable in most cities, with occasional peak congestion seasonally around holidays. Co-working spaces and cafes support remote work. Romania living cost varies by city, so test a few spaces before committing. Tip: trial weekend errands to gauge neighborhood rhythms.

Quality of life in Romania can feel high when you tailor your budget to neighborhoods and seasonality. Consider a simple framework: secure a comfortable base housing while allocating allowance for groceries, utilities, and transport, with a flexible portion for activities and meals out. Off-season travel and local festivals can affect crowds and prices, so plan ahead for peak times in mountain towns or tourist spots. Neighborhood fit matters: look for near tram lines or bike-friendly streets, with easy access to supermarkets and coworking if you work remotely. Tip: join local expat groups to learn monthly rhythms and save by buying in bulk.

Romania covers a wide cost spectrum. As of 2026, monthly expenses run from about $800 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,387 in the priciest areas. The gap is big enough to meaningfully affect lifestyle for anyone on a fixed income.

By international standards, Romania is moderately priced. Smaller cities offer better deals, while capitals run higher. Most visitors and residents find costs manageable without extreme budgeting.

Outside the capital and tourist areas, costs in Romania drop fast. Miercurea Ciuc is one of the best budget options – lower costs without giving up access to essential services and everyday amenities.

$2,000 supports a modest but comfortable life in Romania's smaller cities, but feels tight in Bucharest. Rent is the deciding factor – keep housing costs low and the rest of the budget opens up.

Living costs in Romania are average by world standards. Regional cities offer better value than Bucharest, and most residents with steady jobs or remote income find things manageable.