Cost of living in Romania
Summary of cost of living in Romania
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 12,376 lei
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 5,321 lei
- Romania is the 3rd cheapest country in Eastern Europe (10 out of 12)
- Cost of living in Romania is cheaper than in 79% of countries in the World (49 out of 62)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 49 lei | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 31 lei | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 16 lei | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 8 lei | ||
| 12 eggs, large | 13 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 9 lei | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 21 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 5.21 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 3.89 lei | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 4.99 lei | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 35 lei | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 10 lei | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 3.58 lei | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 3,575 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 2,424 lei | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 603 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 2,523 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 1,697 lei | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 409 lei | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 40 lei | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | 1,600 lei | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 643 lei | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 52 lei | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 41 lei | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 344 lei | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 142 lei | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 383 lei | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 372 lei | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 105,711 lei | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 7 lei | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | 90 lei | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 28 lei | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 22 lei | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 273 lei | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 19 lei | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 24 lei | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 28 lei | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 7 lei | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | 18 lei | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 44 lei | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 106 lei | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | 60 lei | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 311 lei | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 232 lei | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 32 lei | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 16 lei | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 12 lei | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 3,811 lei | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | - | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 192 lei | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 26 lei | ||
Moving to Romania with your children?
International Schools in Romania
Map of Cost of Living in Romania
This map shows only the top cities in Romania. We also have on this page a list of all the cities available in Expatistan:
List of all the cities available in Expatistan
The color of each marker corresponds with the cost of living in the city red markers show more expensive cities green ones show cheaper cities
Moving the mouse on top of a city will show its name and the Cost of Living Index of that city.
What is the Cost of Living Index? To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a
central reference city (that happens to be Prague).
Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the
database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.
Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Cost of Living Ranking in Romania
(top cities by data quality)
| Ranking | City | Price Index * |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Bucharest | 74 |
| 2nd | Timisoara | 63 |
| 3rd | Arad | 54 |
| 4th | Craiova | 54 |
| 5th | Galaţi | 54 |
| 6th | Târgu Mureş | 49 |
Price Index:
To calculate each city's Price Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been established, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.
Are you moving to Romania? Do you know how much money you will need there to maintain your current standard of living?
Find out what is the real equivalent in Romania of your current salary and improve your chances of a happy relocation.
Get a salary calculation for:
List of all cities available in Romania
Recent Comparisons
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 28% cheaper than in Bilbao
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 56% more expensive than in Changchun
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 36% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 35% more expensive than in Multan
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 39% cheaper than in Fort-de-France
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 65% cheaper than in Berkeley, California
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 13% cheaper than in Beijing
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 7% cheaper than in Brasília
- Cost of living in Iasi is 32% cheaper than in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- Cost of living in Bucharest is about the same as in Zomba
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 34% cheaper than in Harare
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 102% more expensive than in Surat
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 40% cheaper than in Stuttgart
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 53% more expensive than in Pune
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 9% more expensive than in Baku
- Cost of living in Bucharest is about the same as in Suwon
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 39% more expensive than in Ponta Grossa
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 37% cheaper than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 17% cheaper than in Syracuse
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 17% cheaper than in Santiago, Chile
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- Monthly rent - 45 m2 furnished studio in expensive area in Bucharest costs 3,000 lei (4 days ago)
- Furnished accommodation in normal area, monthly rent - 85 m2 in Bucharest costs 2,000 lei (4 days ago)
- 1 liter of gasoline in Bucharest costs 7 lei (4 days ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Timisoara costs 200 lei (8 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Timisoara costs 10 lei (8 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Timisoara costs 18 lei (8 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Timisoara costs 35 lei (8 days ago)
- Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Timisoara costs 250 lei (8 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) in Timisoara costs 400 lei (8 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Timisoara costs 40 lei (8 days ago)