Cost of living in Romania
Summary of cost of living in Romania
- Family of four estimated monthly costs: 12,164 lei
- Single person estimated monthly costs: 5,336 lei
- Romania is the 4th cheapest country in Eastern Europe (10 out of 13)
- Cost of living in Romania is cheaper than in 77% of countries in the World (47 out of 61)
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| Food | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district | 46 lei | ||
| Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar) | 32 lei | ||
| 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast | 17 lei | ||
| 1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk | 7 lei | ||
| 12 eggs, large | 13 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of tomatoes | 10 lei | ||
| 500 gr (16 oz.) of local cheese | 23 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of apples | 4.98 lei | ||
| 1 kg (2 lb.) of potatoes | 3.66 lei | ||
| 0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket | 4.83 lei | ||
| 1 bottle of red table wine, good quality | 34 lei | ||
| 2 liters of coca-cola | 11 lei | ||
| Bread for 2 people for 1 day | 3.39 lei | ||
| Housing | |||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area | 3,607 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in normal area | 2,543 lei | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 2 people in 85m2 flat | 511 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in expensive area | 2,453 lei | ||
| Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 sqft) furnished studio in normal area | 1,637 lei | ||
| Utilities 1 month (heating, electricity, gas ...) for 1 person in 45 m2 (480 sqft) studio | 389 lei | ||
| Internet 8 mbps (1 month) | 41 lei | ||
| 40” flat screen tv | 1,317 lei | ||
| Microwave 800/900 watt (bosch, panasonic, lg, sharp, or equivalent brands) | 515 lei | ||
| Laundry detergent (3 l. ~ 100 oz.) | 74 lei | ||
| Hourly rate for cleaning help | 43 lei | ||
| Clothes | |||
| 1 pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar) | 370 lei | ||
| 1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers) | 147 lei | ||
| 1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands) | 366 lei | ||
| 1 pair of men’s leather business shoes | 430 lei | ||
| Transportation | |||
| Volkswagen golf 1.4 tsi 150 cv (or equivalent), with no extras, new | 120,453 lei | ||
| 1 liter (1/4 gallon) of gas | 7 lei | ||
| Monthly ticket public transport | 102 lei | ||
| Personal Care | |||
| Cold medicine for 6 days (tylenol, frenadol, coldrex, or equivalent brands) | 25 lei | ||
| 1 box of antibiotics (12 doses) | 30 lei | ||
| Short visit to private doctor (15 minutes) | 272 lei | ||
| 1 box of 32 tampons (tampax, ob, ...) | 23 lei | ||
| Deodorant, roll-on (50ml ~ 1.5 oz.) | 23 lei | ||
| Hair shampoo 2-in-1 (400 ml ~ 12 oz.) | 30 lei | ||
| 4 rolls of toilet paper | 8 lei | ||
| Tube of toothpaste | 17 lei | ||
| Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city | 68 lei | ||
| Entertainment | |||
| Basic dinner out for two in neighborhood pub | 150 lei | ||
| 2 tickets to the movies | 62 lei | ||
| 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) | 248 lei | ||
| Dinner for two at an italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert | 227 lei | ||
| 1 cocktail drink in downtown club | 33 lei | ||
| Cappuccino in expat area of the city | 16 lei | ||
| 1 beer in neighbourhood pub (500ml or 1pt.) | 13 lei | ||
| Ipad wi-fi 128gb | 3,950 lei | ||
| 1 min. of prepaid mobile tariff (no discounts or plans) | 0.25 lei | ||
| 1 month of gym membership in business district | 180 lei | ||
| 1 package of marlboro cigarettes | 28 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 | 73 |
| 2nd | Timisoara | 66 |
| 3rd | Arad | 54 |
| 4th | Craiova | 54 |
| 5th | Galaţi | 54 |
| 6th | Sibiu | 51 |
| 7th | 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 11% cheaper than in Budapest
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 33% cheaper than in Madrid
- Cost of living in Brasov is 39% cheaper than in Kuwait City
- Cost of living in Timisoara is 25% cheaper than in Santa Fe
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 72% cheaper than in Rasht
- Cost of living in Timisoara is about the same as in San Juan, Argentina
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 775% more expensive than in Concordia
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 70% cheaper than in London
- Cost of living in Sibiu is 33% cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 32% cheaper than in Castries, Saint Lucia
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 20% more expensive than in Chişinău
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 40% cheaper than in Tokyo
- Cost of living in Timisoara is 37% more expensive than in Rasht
- Cost of living in Constanţa is 56% more expensive than in Santa Fe
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 39% cheaper than in Barcelona, Spain
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 10% more expensive than in Accra
- Cost of living in Timisoara is 28% cheaper than in La Plata
- Cost of living in Bucharest is 36% more expensive than in Saint Petersburg
- Cost of living in Timisoara is 62% cheaper than in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Cost of living in Timisoara is 67% cheaper than in Seattle, Washington
Compare other countries
Prices recently added
- 1 liter of gasoline in Bucharest costs 8 lei (5 days ago)
- 1 pack of marlboro cigarettes in Brasov costs 30 lei (6 days ago)
- 1 month of gym membership in business district in Brasov costs 60 lei (6 days ago)
- 500 ml beer in neighbourhood pub in Brasov costs 10 lei (6 days ago)
- Cappuccino in expat area of the city in Brasov costs 10 lei (6 days ago)
- Cocktail drink in downtown club in Brasov costs 30 lei (6 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the theater (best available seats) in Brasov costs 100 lei (6 days ago)
- 2 tickets to the movies in Brasov costs 70 lei (6 days ago)
- Basic dinner out in neighborhood pub, dinner for two in Brasov costs 200 lei (6 days ago)
- Standard men's haircut in expat area of the city in Brasov costs 120 lei (6 days ago)