Cost of living in Romania

Summary of cost of living in Romania

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs: 11,770 lei
  • Single person estimated monthly costs: 5,169 lei
  • Romania is the 2nd cheapest country in Eastern Europe (9 out of 10)
  • Cost of living in Romania is cheaper than in 85% of countries in the World (56 out of 66)
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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) 30 lei
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast 15 lei
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk 8 lei
12 eggs, large 15 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes 9 lei
500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese 23 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of apples 5.28 lei
1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes 4.14 lei
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket 4.78 lei
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality 35 lei
2 liters of coca-cola 9 lei
Bread for 2 people for 1 day 3.14 lei
Housing
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area 3,678 lei
Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area 2,402 lei
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat 752 lei
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area 2,223 lei
Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area 1,443 lei
Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio 424 lei
Internet 8 mbps (1 month) 38 lei
40” flat screen tv 1,546 lei
Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) 609 lei
Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) 46 lei
Hourly rate for cleaning help 35 lei
Clothes
1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) 251 lei
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) 176 lei
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) 341 lei
1 pair of men’s leather business shoes 382 lei
Transportation
Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new 92,766 lei
1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas 7 lei
Monthly ticket public transport 96 lei
Personal Care
Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) 36 lei
1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) 30 lei
Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) 240 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.) 25 lei
4 rolls of toilet paper 7 lei
Tube of toothpaste 18 lei
Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city 45 lei
Entertainment
Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub 110 lei
2 tickets to the movies 58 lei
2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) 148 lei
Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 225 lei
1 cocktail drink in downtown club 32 lei
Cappuccino in expat area of the city 15 lei
1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) 12 lei
Ipad wi-fi 128gb 3,666 lei
1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) 0.53 lei
1 month of gym membership in business district 183 lei
1 package of marlboro cigarettes 24 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 72
2nd Timisoara 60
3rd Râmnicu Vâlcea 55
4th Arad 54
5th Galaţi 53
6th Craiova 53
7th Târgu Mureş 48

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

  • Utilities, monthly for 2 people in 85 m2 in Bucharest costs 600 lei (6 days ago)
  • 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Iasi costs 28 lei (6 days ago)
  • Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Iasi costs 12 lei (6 days ago)
  • 2 tickets to the movies in Iasi costs 50 lei (6 days ago)
  • 8 rolls of toilet paper in Iasi costs 5.00 lei (6 days ago)
  • 40ml deodorant, roll-on in Iasi costs 13 lei (6 days ago)
  • One-way ticket in public transport in Iasi costs 3.00 lei (6 days ago)
  • Public transport in Iasi costs 110 lei (6 days ago)
  • 2 liters of coca-cola in Iasi costs 9 lei (6 days ago)
  • 500 ml domestic beer in the supermarket in Iasi costs 4.50 lei (6 days ago)

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