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 $1,034 including rent across Romania.

Estimated average monthly cost for a couple: $1,583 including rent across Romania.

Average monthly costs for a family of three come to about $2,132 including rent across Romania.

Living costs in Romania vary widely – from $820 in more affordable cities to $1,410 in major hubs, spanning a $590 range across 77 cities.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.54 RON 52.0

$6.93 RON 31.21

$18.47 RON 83.2

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.30 RON 208

$34.72 RON 156

$92.6 RON 417

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.08 RON 36.38

$6.93 RON 31.19

$9.23 RON 41.57

Cappuccino

$2.98 RON 13.41

$1.65 RON 7.45

$4.73 RON 21.32

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

$1.97 RON 8.89

$1.14 RON 5.11

$3.41 RON 15.34

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 RON 8.41

$1.17 RON 5.25

$2.80 RON 12.61

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 RON 12.61

$1.40 RON 6.31

$4.20 RON 18.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 RON 15.85

$2.35 RON 10.57

$4.70 RON 21.18

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.32

$1.18 RON 5.33

$2.37 RON 10.65

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 RON 5.52

$0.79 RON 3.58

$2.03 RON 9.15

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 RON 7.84

$1.14 RON 5.12

$2.50 RON 11.27

Eggs

$3.23 RON 14.53

$2.08 RON 9.36

$4.33 RON 19.52

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.84 RON 39.79

$5.72 RON 25.78

$13.74 RON 61.9

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.74 RON 30.35

$4.34 RON 19.55

$7.99 RON 35.98

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.29 RON 50.9

$7.04 RON 31.71

$17.60 RON 79.3

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 RON 5.29

$0.68 RON 3.04

$1.80 RON 8.11

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 RON 7.25

$1.35 RON 6.10

$2.26 RON 10.17

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 RON 7.22

$1.13 RON 5.10

$2.49 RON 11.21

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 RON 9.70

$1.12 RON 5.03

$3.35 RON 15.08

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 RON 4.07

$0.56 RON 2.51

$1.33 RON 5.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 RON 4.61

$0.71 RON 3.18

$1.41 RON 6.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 RON 4.47

$0.61 RON 2.73

$1.44 RON 6.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 RON 3.94

$0.60 RON 2.72

$1.32 RON 5.96

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.11 RON 27.51

$5.66 RON 25.48

$6.79 RON 30.56

Wine (Bottle)

$6.46 RON 29.09

$4.30 RON 19.38

$9.69 RON 43.62

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 RON 5.03

$0.79 RON 3.57

$1.80 RON 8.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 RON 7.82

$1.12 RON 5.05

$2.69 RON 12.13

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 RON 3.81

$0.72 RON 3.25

$1.20 RON 5.41

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.63 RON 102

$18.10 RON 81.5

$33.94 RON 153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 RON 4.25

$0.71 RON 3.19

$1.18 RON 5.31

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 RON 3.13

$0.59 RON 2.66

$0.99 RON 4.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.90 RON 35.58

$5.86 RON 26.38

$11.64 RON 52.4

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 RON 7.36

$1.51 RON 6.81

$1.81 RON 8.17

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

$28.4K RON 127.7K

$28.0K RON 125.9K

$29.1K RON 130.9K

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

$27.5K RON 123.9K

$26.5K RON 119.2K

$31.2K RON 140.4K

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

$163 RON 732

$115 RON 518

$261 RON 1,178

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

$8.19 RON 36.89

$4.50 RON 20.27

$13.49 RON 60.8

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.55 RON 43.00

$6.74 RON 30.35

$16.84 RON 75.9

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.15 RON 203

$28.02 RON 126

$70.1 RON 316

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.90 RON 94.1

$11.54 RON 52.0

$34.63 RON 156

Cinema Ticket

$8.00 RON 36.01

$5.71 RON 25.74

$11.42 RON 51.4

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

$500 RON 2,252

$346 RON 1,559

$808 RON 3,639

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K RON 45.9K

$6,992 RON 31.5K

$19.3K RON 87.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 RON 307

$29.33 RON 132

$120 RON 539

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.68 RON 188

$23.33 RON 105

$70.0 RON 315

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 RON 368

$56.7 RON 255

$113 RON 510

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.8 RON 418

$69.0 RON 311

$138 RON 622

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 RON 2,222

$347 RON 1,561

$809 RON 3,643

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 RON 1,628

$232 RON 1,045

$580 RON 2,612

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 RON 3,769

$530 RON 2,387

$1,405 RON 6,330

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 RON 2,713

$406 RON 1,827

$1,038 RON 4,674

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,562 RON 11.5K

$1,629 RON 7,335

$4,700 RON 21.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,905 RON 8,578

$1,323 RON 5,958

$3,455 RON 15.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,079 RON 4,859

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: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center: $391 across Romania. For reference, capital rent is $654 in Bucharest, and $210 in Miercurea Ciuc.

National average salary: $894. With average costs at $1,034, 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 $1,348 per month, while Miercurea Ciuc offers the lowest costs at $820 – which city you pick has a tangible effect on the budget.

Cost Highlights

Overall living costs ($1,034) is 22% below the global median of $1,333.

Average rent ($391) is 37% below the global median of $624.

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	$520	$961	$1,542	$1,972	60.71	231.2
2	Alexandria	45434	43	$505	$843	$1,145	$1,980	94.28	259.74
3	Arad	159074	44	$465	$863	$1,402	$1,887	299.13	302.01
4	Bacau	144307	45	$590	$897	$1,555	$2,013	32.5	295.75
5	Baia Mare	123738	44	$507	$884	$1,266	$1,957	109.19	249.47
6	Baia Sprie	11735	49	$500	$990	$1,415	$1,930	204.68	275.33
7	Barlad	77518	52	$528	$1,023	$1,579	$2,111	25.01	253.78
8	Bistrita	75076	46	$485	$913	$1,509	$1,961	234.54	300.31
9	Bolintin-Vale	12000	57	$633	$1,148	$1,674	$2,334	236.49	164.89
10	Botosani	106847	52	$565	$1,026	$1,250	$2,077	210.36	270.56
11	Bragadiru	15000	57	$660	$1,140	$1,849	$2,468	105.92	294.77
12	Braila	180302	55	$605	$1,087	$1,703	$2,232	344.89	269.04
13	Brasov	253200	64	$650	$1,289	$1,608	$2,653	22.03	275.92
14	Bucharest	1883425	67	$828	$1,348	$1,819	$2,907	77.6	320.25
15	Buzau	115494	55	$599	$1,122	$1,298	$2,021	124.83	239.01
16	Buzias	7000	56	$579	$1,123	$1,746	$2,348	70.59	205.05
17	Calafat	18500	52	$578	$1,051	$1,599	$2,063	217.87	109.49
18	Calarasi	65181	50	$668	$1,007	$1,360	$1,996	51.9	251.11
19	Campina	41554	53	$675	$1,081	$1,817	$2,188	51.32	293.02
20	Carei	25911	52	$661	$1,036	$1,642	$2,099	241.26	244.17
21	Chitila	10866	58	$600	$1,156	$1,801	$2,498	30.63	274.79
22	Cluj-Napoca	324576	70	$686	$1,410	$1,719	$2,823	63.39	331.04
23	Constanta	283872	66	$757	$1,299	$1,752	$2,883	284.14	264.33
24	Craiova	269506	56	$520	$1,113	$1,652	$2,184	68.5	262.58
25	Cugir	28780	48	$452	$970	$1,168	$1,882	59.03	262.61
26	Dealu	3800	56	$586	$1,110	$1,771	$2,295	36.06	118.26
27	Deva	61123	44	$539	$870	$1,154	$1,787	153.45	284.13
28	Dorohoi	32778	51	$599	$1,003	$1,342	$2,001	126.42	214.37
29	Drobeta-Turnu Severin	92617	54	$615	$1,085	$2,028	$2,476	30.47	241.37
30	Focsani	97186	48	$502	$939	$1,491	$1,937	117.07	252.78
31	Galati	249432	56	$628	$1,110	$1,548	$2,326	101.93	255.36
32	Giurgiu	61353	57	$623	$1,143	$1,908	$2,293	187.8	250.46
33	Hunedoara	78675	42	$565	$852	$1,415	$1,692	60.11	259.68
34	Iasi	290422	57	$601	$1,125	$1,734	$2,276	71.48	333.42
35	Iernut	9000	51	$502	$1,012	$1,291	$2,065	15.75	253.99
36	Lehliu Gara	6000	53	$577	$1,077	$1,357	$2,211	199.85	194.52
37	Lugoj	49742	42	$506	$853	$1,063	$1,715	124.21	188.29
38	Mamaia	441	52	$585	$1,012	$1,559	$2,089	257.36	255.76
39	Mangalia	36364	52	$529	$1,031	$1,572	$2,088	36.22	275.97
40	Medias	53564	56	$713	$1,114	$1,680	$2,291	102.78	283.08
41	Miercurea Ciuc	38966	40	$455	$820	$1,201	$1,780	212.29	212.32
42	Miroslava	11000	54	$546	$1,063	$1,719	$2,239	122.24	333.84
43	Odorheiu Secuiesc	34275	53	$565	$1,033	$1,518	$2,155	64.12	203.18
44	Onesti	57333	49	$588	$982	$1,298	$1,934	32.11	204.21
45	Oradea	196367	54	$632	$1,065	$1,744	$2,137	254.76	300.54
46	Pascani	35897	57	$578	$1,111	$1,601	$2,343	154.85	233.39
47	Petrosani	51476	57	$715	$1,132	$1,914	$2,334	96.51	282.58
48	Piatra Neamt	85055	47	$700	$920	$1,674	$1,961	313.07	324.88
49	Pitesti	155383	53	$700	$1,065	$1,567	$2,116	144.93	269.77
50	Ploiesti	224406	55	$640	$1,086	$1,598	$2,196	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 $820 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 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.