Cost of Living in Bucharest, Romania

Are you considering a move to Bucharest, Romania, and wondering about the cost of living? Bucharest is a diverse city with a lot to offer, but like any city, it comes with its own set of expenses. In this page, we'll break down the cost of living in Bucharest and help you understand whether $1642 per month is moderately priced, given the average monthly salary of $1077.51.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Bucharest, Romania
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

10.92 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

50.24 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

6.55 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.62 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

3.28 $

Cappuccino (regular)

2.96 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

1.86 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

1.82 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

1.52 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

1.1 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

1.84 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

3.19 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

8.86 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

6.53 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

11.43 $

Apples (1 lb)

1.13 $

Banana (1 lb)

1.63 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.54 $

Tomato (1 lb)

1.99 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.98 $

Onion (1 lb)

1.14 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.79 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.77 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

6.55 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

1.01 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

1.74 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

5.46 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.66 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

17.47 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

0.66 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.66 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

6.55 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.54 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

26280.63 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

26685.79 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

143.91 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

--

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

8.78 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

46.75 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

19.0 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

7.43 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

512.85 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

9813.77 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

66.79 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

39.98 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

76.91 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

98.56 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

545.25 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

384.94 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

966.28 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

662.5 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

2584.72 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

1554.93 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

1077.51 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

7.54 %

Cost of Living in Bucharest, Romania

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the monthly cost of living in Bucharest?

The monthly expenses for living in Bucharest come to a total of approximately $1642. This includes an average monthly rent of around $545 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center, along with utilities costing about $148 per month. Additionally, other expenses such as groceries, transportation, dining out, and leisure activities for one person amount to approximately $475 per month.

How affordable is living in Bucharest?

Living in Bucharest appears to be relatively budget-friendly when considering the average monthly income of $1077.51. However, to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in Bucharest, you would likely need an income exceeding $1077.51.

What is the average salary in Bucharest?

In Bucharest, the average monthly post-tax salary hovers around $1077.51, and it isn't tied to any particular skillset or qualification.

What is the average rent in Bucharest?

The typical monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the central area of Bucharest is approximately $545. If you're open to living in a location outside the city center, you can expect to pay around $384.94 for such an apartment.

What is the cost of groceries in Bucharest?

The expense for groceries in Bucharest can fluctuate based on personal choices and shopping patterns. Typically, an individual can budget around $396 per month for groceries. Nevertheless, the actual costs may change depending on various factors, including the specific items bought, the choice of stores, and the availability of discounts or special offers.

What is the cost of living in Romania?

The cost of living in Romania can vary significantly depending on the particular city you have in mind. Using a nationwide average might not provide accurate information. To get a more precise understanding, it's crucial to examine the cost of living in various cities throughout Romania.

Bucharest, Romania

How Safe Is Bucharest, Romania for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Bucharest, Romania

OVERALL RISK: LOW

For the most part, Bucharest is a safe city to travel to, and considered to be a welcoming traveling destination, ranked among the most-threat free countries on the planet.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Generally speaking, transportation in Bucharest is safe. As in any other tourist city, cab drivers could take advantage of an unprepared tourist, scamming him into paying the ride way too much.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Pickpockets and small thefts are some of the most common crimes you can encounter in Bucharest and other famous tourist destinations in Romania, and even there they are rare compared to other bigger European capitals.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Bucharest is somewhat vulnerable to earthquake hazards, given the fact that they are located in an active seismic zone. Apart from that, Bucharest is susceptible to heavy rains or snowfall during winter.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Even though crimes against tourists remain a problem in this city, and especially towards tourists, mugging is not an issue and rarely happens towards them.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

Given the fact that as of recently, Romania started boosting anti-terrorism laws, even though it was always considered to be one of the most terrorism threat-free countries in the world, traveling to Bucharest is considered as safe as can be, when it comes to terrorism.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are, of course, regular scams that are being conducted towards tourists in Bucharest, but they're mostly in the form of overpricing in bars, or by the street vendors. Drink spiking is also an issue in night clubs.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Bucharest is as safe as can be for women travelers, but even so, they should be aware of the dangers of roaming alone in a strange city. Just like pretty much anywhere, they should avoid walking alone down empty or poorly lit streets, walking past groups of people that behave or look strange or getting into conversations with unknown people that might seem strangely friendly.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

In most cases, visas are not needed for any stay in Bucharest shorter than 90 days. However, you should make sure that your password is valid for at least six months from your date of return and if you're not sure whether or not you need a visa, you should consult your local Romanian embassy.

currency_exchange

Currency

Currency in Bucharest is Romanian Leu. You should avoid exchanging money on the street or any unofficial money exchange offices. You will find the best exchange rate in the official banks. Another option can be withdrawing money from local ATMs using your debit or credit card.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Bucharest climate is mild, with all four, very distinct seasons. It's colder in the north since the Carpathian Mountains are there, so if you're traveling to Transylvania, be prepared and dress warmly.

flight_takeoff

Airports

As would be expected, the busiest Romanian airports are located right in this city. There are two of them, and the most prominent one is located 16.5 km north of Bucharest, called Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport.

health_and_safety

Travel Insurance

Travelers are strongly advised to make sure they have travel insurance that would, in case of any emergency, cover all costs of any medical problems, as well as in cases of theft or loss of personal items.

Bucharest, Romania

What about weather in Bucharest, Romania ?
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 36°F 41°F 52°F 63°F 74°F 81°F 85°F 84°F 75°F 63°F 49°F 39°F
Temp 30°F 33°F 43°F 53°F 63°F 70°F 74°F 73°F 64°F 53°F 42°F 33°F
Low 25°F 27°F 34°F 43°F 52°F 59°F 63°F 61°F 54°F 44°F 35°F 28°F
Average Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High 2°C 5°C 11°C 17°C 23°C 27°C 29°C 28°C 23°C 17°C 9°C 3°C
Temp -1°C 0°C 6°C 11°C 17°C 21°C 23°C 22°C 17°C 11°C 5°C 0°C
Low -3°C -2°C 1°C 6°C 11°C 15°C 17°C 16°C 12°C 6°C 1°C -2°C

Comparison Cost of living in other cities in Romania with Bucharest

Comparison Cost of living in other cities

Cost of living in countries