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 $1,036 including rent across Romania.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,581 including rent across Romania.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,125 including rent across Romania.

Living costs in Romania vary widely – from $801 in more affordable cities to $1,410 in major hubs, spanning a $609 range across 77 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 RON 52.2

$6.86 RON 31.33

$18.29 RON 83.5

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.67 RON 213

$35.01 RON 160

$93.4 RON 426

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 RON 37.83

$7.10 RON 32.43

$9.47 RON 43.22

Cappuccino

$2.95 RON 13.44

$1.64 RON 7.46

$4.68 RON 21.37

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

$2.04 RON 9.30

$1.17 RON 5.35

$3.52 RON 16.05

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 RON 8.50

$1.16 RON 5.31

$2.79 RON 12.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 RON 12.75

$1.40 RON 6.38

$4.19 RON 19.13

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 RON 16.14

$2.36 RON 10.76

$4.72 RON 21.56

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 7.02

$1.12 RON 5.11

$2.24 RON 10.22

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 RON 5.58

$0.79 RON 3.61

$2.02 RON 9.24

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 RON 7.92

$1.13 RON 5.18

$2.50 RON 11.39

Eggs

$3.24 RON 14.80

$2.09 RON 9.54

$4.36 RON 19.88

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 RON 41.61

$5.91 RON 26.96

$14.17 RON 64.7

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.90 RON 31.49

$4.44 RON 20.28

$8.18 RON 37.32

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.24 RON 51.3

$7.01 RON 32.00

$17.52 RON 80.0

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 RON 5.36

$0.68 RON 3.08

$1.80 RON 8.22

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.30

$1.34 RON 6.14

$2.24 RON 10.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 RON 7.51

$1.16 RON 5.30

$2.55 RON 11.66

Tomato (1kg)

$2.20 RON 10.04

$1.14 RON 5.20

$3.42 RON 15.61

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 RON 4.17

$0.56 RON 2.57

$1.34 RON 6.12

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 RON 4.62

$0.70 RON 3.19

$1.40 RON 6.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 RON 4.12

$0.55 RON 2.52

$1.31 RON 5.99

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 RON 4.02

$0.61 RON 2.77

$1.33 RON 6.08

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.19 RON 28.27

$5.73 RON 26.18

$6.88 RON 31.40

Wine (Bottle)

$6.39 RON 29.16

$4.26 RON 19.43

$9.58 RON 43.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 RON 5.07

$0.79 RON 3.60

$1.79 RON 8.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 RON 7.98

$1.13 RON 5.15

$2.71 RON 12.37

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 RON 3.57

$0.67 RON 3.04

$1.11 RON 5.07

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.82 RON 104

$18.25 RON 83.3

$34.22 RON 156

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 RON 4.15

$0.68 RON 3.11

$1.14 RON 5.19

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 RON 3.41

$0.63 RON 2.89

$1.06 RON 4.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 RON 36.35

$5.90 RON 26.95

$11.73 RON 53.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.45

$1.51 RON 6.89

$1.81 RON 8.27

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

$28.4K RON 129.6K

$28.0K RON 127.7K

$29.1K RON 132.8K

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

$27.4K RON 124.9K

$26.3K RON 120.2K

$31.0K RON 141.5K

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

$165 RON 755

$117 RON 534

$266 RON 1,214

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

$8.16 RON 37.26

$4.49 RON 20.47

$13.45 RON 61.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.67 RON 44.13

$6.82 RON 31.15

$17.05 RON 77.8

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.62 RON 204

$27.69 RON 126

$69.2 RON 316

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.14 RON 96.5

$11.67 RON 53.3

$35.02 RON 160

Cinema Ticket

$8.15 RON 37.18

$5.82 RON 26.57

$11.63 RON 53.1

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

$497 RON 2,268

$344 RON 1,570

$803 RON 3,664

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K RON 46.5K

$6,990 RON 31.9K

$19.3K RON 88.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.9 RON 319

$30.07 RON 137

$123 RON 560

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.79 RON 191

$23.39 RON 107

$70.2 RON 320

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 RON 383

$58.1 RON 265

$116 RON 530

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 RON 423

$69.0 RON 315

$138 RON 630

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 RON 2,247

$346 RON 1,579

$807 RON 3,685

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 RON 1,624

$228 RON 1,042

$571 RON 2,606

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 RON 3,819

$530 RON 2,418

$1,405 RON 6,414

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 RON 2,758

$407 RON 1,858

$1,041 RON 4,752

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,543 RON 11.6K

$1,614 RON 7,369

$4,669 RON 21.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,873 RON 8,549

$1,311 RON 5,986

$3,465 RON 15.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,017 RON 4,641

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: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $392 in Romania. For reference, capital rent is $662 in Bucharest, and $211 in Miercurea Ciuc.

National average salary: $879. With average costs at $1,036, 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 $1,362 per month, while Miercurea Ciuc offers the lowest costs at $801 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,036) is 22% below the global median of $1,336.

Average rent ($392) is 38% below the global median of $631.

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	$535	$941	$1,251	$1,928	60.71	231.2
2	Alexandria	45434	43	$551	$836	$1,381	$1,924	94.28	259.74
3	Arad	159074	44	$526	$878	$1,352	$1,893	299.13	302.01
4	Bacau	144307	45	$523	$905	$1,422	$2,019	32.5	295.75
5	Baia Mare	123738	44	$615	$889	$1,326	$1,903	109.19	249.47
6	Baia Sprie	11735	49	$553	$992	$1,293	$1,961	204.68	275.33
7	Barlad	77518	52	$516	$1,038	$1,547	$2,137	25.01	253.78
8	Bistrita	75076	45	$626	$920	$1,594	$1,925	234.54	300.31
9	Bolintin-Vale	12000	57	$776	$1,115	$1,830	$2,330	236.49	164.89
10	Botosani	106847	52	$646	$1,027	$1,410	$2,076	210.36	270.56
11	Bragadiru	15000	57	$632	$1,140	$1,972	$2,419	105.92	294.77
12	Braila	180302	55	$716	$1,095	$1,704	$2,216	344.89	269.04
13	Brasov	253200	64	$676	$1,254	$1,782	$2,657	22.03	275.92
14	Bucharest	1883425	67	$788	$1,362	$2,109	$2,903	77.6	320.25
15	Buzau	115494	55	$641	$1,115	$1,360	$2,020	124.83	239.01
16	Buzias	7000	56	$571	$1,128	$1,485	$2,378	70.59	205.05
17	Calafat	18500	52	$528	$1,025	$1,259	$2,073	217.87	109.49
18	Calarasi	65181	50	$670	$988	$1,637	$1,965	51.9	251.11
19	Campina	41554	53	$708	$1,080	$1,407	$2,142	51.32	293.02
20	Carei	25911	52	$544	$1,019	$1,582	$2,098	241.26	244.17
21	Chitila	10866	58	$774	$1,173	$1,911	$2,450	30.63	274.79
22	Cluj-Napoca	324576	70	$596	$1,410	$1,811	$2,886	63.39	331.04
23	Constanta	283872	66	$732	$1,341	$2,000	$2,949	284.14	264.33
24	Craiova	269506	56	$570	$1,122	$1,675	$2,130	68.5	262.58
25	Cugir	28780	48	$492	$951	$1,410	$1,828	59.03	262.61
26	Dealu	3800	56	$639	$1,127	$1,627	$2,319	36.06	118.26
27	Deva	61123	44	$493	$875	$1,302	$1,792	153.45	284.13
28	Dorohoi	32778	51	$500	$999	$1,403	$2,001	126.42	214.37
29	Drobeta-Turnu Severin	92617	54	$741	$1,057	$1,996	$2,511	30.47	241.37
30	Focsani	97186	48	$569	$953	$1,252	$1,988	117.07	252.78
31	Galati	249432	56	$612	$1,103	$1,666	$2,327	101.93	255.36
32	Giurgiu	61353	56	$717	$1,126	$1,718	$2,363	187.8	250.46
33	Hunedoara	78675	42	$548	$830	$1,317	$1,692	60.11	259.68
34	Iasi	290422	57	$556	$1,156	$1,500	$2,350	71.48	333.42
35	Iernut	9000	51	$648	$1,012	$1,364	$2,026	15.75	253.99
36	Lehliu Gara	6000	53	$530	$1,082	$1,375	$2,162	199.85	194.52
37	Lugoj	49742	42	$420	$855	$1,271	$1,725	124.21	188.29
38	Mamaia	441	52	$584	$1,041	$1,506	$2,116	257.36	255.76
39	Mangalia	36364	52	$645	$1,045	$1,322	$2,112	36.22	275.97
40	Medias	53564	56	$603	$1,096	$1,576	$2,269	102.78	283.08
41	Miercurea Ciuc	38966	40	$560	$801	$1,270	$1,774	212.29	212.32
42	Miroslava	11000	54	$593	$1,087	$1,611	$2,221	122.24	333.84
43	Odorheiu Secuiesc	34275	53	$674	$1,057	$1,674	$2,169	64.12	203.18
44	Onesti	57333	49	$561	$981	$1,441	$1,929	32.11	204.21
45	Oradea	196367	54	$537	$1,074	$1,636	$2,150	254.76	300.54
46	Pascani	35897	56	$663	$1,143	$1,689	$2,307	154.85	233.39
47	Petrosani	51476	57	$719	$1,134	$1,484	$2,269	96.51	282.58
48	Piatra Neamt	85055	47	$642	$936	$1,614	$1,952	313.07	324.88
49	Pitesti	155383	53	$702	$1,080	$1,779	$2,073	144.93	269.77
50	Ploiesti	224406	55	$540	$1,116	$1,442	$2,124	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 $801 in budget-friendly smaller cities to $1,410 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 the smaller cities of Romania, 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.