Cost of living in Romania

Summary of cost of living in Romania

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: 11,615 lei
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: 5,137 lei
  • Romania is the 2nd cheapest country in Eastern Europe (9 out of 10)
  • Cost of living in Romania is cheaper than in 86% of countries in the World (59 out of 69)
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Food
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district 53 lei
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) 29 lei
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast 16 lei
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk 7 lei
12 eggs, large 15 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes 8 lei
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese 21 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 4.88 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 3.66 lei
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket 4.36 lei
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 34 lei
2 liters of coca-cola 8 lei
Bread for 2 people for 1 day 3.79 lei
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area 3,745 lei
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area 2,284 lei
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat 638 lei
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area 2,120 lei
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area 1,495 lei
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio 440 lei
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) 41 lei
40” flat screen tv 1,583 lei
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) 468 lei
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) 49 lei
Hourly rate for cleaning help 39 lei
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) 302 lei
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) 190 lei
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) 355 lei
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes 405 lei
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new 102,208 lei
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas 7 lei
Monthly ticket public transport 92 lei
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) 29 lei
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) 29 lei
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) 216 lei
1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) 25 lei
Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) 18 lei
Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) 22 lei
4 rolls of toilet paper 8 lei
Tube of toothpaste 13 lei
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city 48 lei
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub 136 lei
2 tickets to the movies 66 lei
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) 149 lei
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 211 lei
1 cocktail drink in downtown club 33 lei
Cappuccino in expat area of the city 12 lei
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) 10 lei
Ipad wi-fi 128gb 3,079 lei
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) 0.37 lei
1 month of gym membership in business district 188 lei
1 package of marlboro cigarettes 23 lei

Moving to Romania with your children?

International Schools in Romania

Map of Cost of Living in Romania

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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 67
2nd Timisoara 57
3rd Iasi 54
4th Râmnicu Vâlcea 53
5th Arad 51
6th Craiova 51
7th Galaţi 51
8th Târgu Mureş 45

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.

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Prices recently added

  • 1 liter of whole fat milk in Bucharest costs 10 lei (3 days ago)
  • 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Bucharest costs 26 lei (5 days ago)
  • 1 month of gym membership in business district in Bucharest costs 200 lei (5 days ago)
  • Ipad wi-fi 128gb in Bucharest costs 2,000 lei (5 days ago)
  • Nice dinner at an italian restaurant, dinner for two in Bucharest costs 200 lei (5 days ago)
  • Public transport in Bucharest costs 80 lei (5 days ago)
  • 1 liter of gasoline in Bucharest costs 8 lei (5 days ago)
  • Men’s leather business shoes in Bucharest costs 500 lei (5 days ago)
  • Sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) in Bucharest costs 600 lei (5 days ago)
  • Jeans (levis 501 or similar) in Bucharest costs 700 lei (5 days ago)

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