How Much Does It Cost to Live In Romania?
Romania is a country of lavish natural beauty, that is situated in the north of the Balkan Peninsula.
Romania has a little something for everyone: skiing, water parks, beaches, nightlife, mountains, rivers and lakes, local village life, and a ton of history.
Another plus side is that the cost of living in Romania is extremely cheap.
You can go by with just 300$ for a high-end hotel and rental car for two weeks (with breakfast, spa, swimming pool, and parking included).
Be careful not to get carried away, because – depending on your lifestyle, there’s always the risk of overspending.
Romania : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
The food in Romania is amazing. Everything there is made locally and is very fresh.
Most restaurants and hotels also have vegan and vegetarian options.
Prices are the cheapest in Europe, and beer and wine are also very cheap.
Many people say that it’s impossible to get out of Romania without gaining weight.
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant will cost you around 8$.
MARKETS
Most of the organic food from Romania is very cheap.
You can find tasty organically-farmed fruits and vegetables in special markets in all cities throughout Romania.
Generally, in supermarkets, you can find a variety of groceries, all kinds of cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.
Groceries are priced like in the rest of Europe, but they are of a much higher quality.
If you visit Romania during summer, trying fresh fruit from street vendors is a treat!
TRANSPORTATION
One thing you should know is that public transportation in Romania is not your friend, however cheap it is, and if you need to be somewhere in time, just go on foot.
Public transportation is slow and crowded (especially during peak hours), and a nerve-testing experience when it rains or snows.
Do not rely on the printed schedules you will find on many stations, as traffic patterns change daily.
A one-way bus ticket is only 0.66$, though.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
One of the things Romania is known for is – the internet.
Internet speed is lightning-fast here!
You can get 1GB/s download speed for about 9$ every month.
However, the presence of the internet and basic utilities exist to a lesser degree in rural areas than in the cities.
For some people, this may be a positive experience, though, if they are looking for a touch of a more archaic way of life.
SPORTS & LEISURE
The great thing about this country is that it offers an abundance of opportunities for practicing sports outside: there are mountains, for climbing and hiking, rivers and lakes for swimming and fishing, and gorgeous streets for jogging.
However, if you’re more of an indoor person, you can become a member of a gym or fitness club for around 39$.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Romania also has many shopping malls, with a range of Western stores and brands where you can shop for your favorite clothes and shoes.
The prices aren’t exactly low (which you might expect from a country located in the eastern part of Europe), but they aren’t sky-high either.
You can buy quality jeans for around 60$, and running sneakers for only 72$.
RENT PER MONTH
While rents can be high, they don’t come anywhere close to those that you’d encounter in London or other large cities in Western Europe.
Rent will, however, be your main concern while living here.
You can find places where you’ll pay 120$ for a studio, while anything above 375$ means you’ll be getting decent accommodation in the best part of the city.
A larger apartment for the whole family, in the city center, is over 600$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Romania
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $7.73 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $1.77 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.27 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.39 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.96 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.69 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.66 |
| Monthly Pass | $17.67 |
| Gasoline | $1.73 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $131.7 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $8.67 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $38.26 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $15.13 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $6.63 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $62.68 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $36.54 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $72.04 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $375.30 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $275.11 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $642.61 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Romania?
As in most countries of the world, the biggest expense for the people of Romania is food and groceries.
The second biggest expense is rent since it’s relatively high though not as high as in more developed countries of Europe.
Transportation expenses and going to restaurants are equally as important for the people of Romania since they spend about 15% of their salaries on each.
Utilities have a very low percentage on this pie chart of expenses, which means that Romania has low prices of electricity – good for them!
Average Costs Breakdown
Romania: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The wages in Romania are pretty low outside of finance and software development, although they are rapidly increasing like the economy.
Ever since Romania joined the EU, wages have been growing, but they are still on the lower side.
Their average monthly net salary is around 775.81 $ which is enough to cover all expenses, but definitely means a bit of a struggle for someone who’s renting.
The minimum wage in Romania is around 647.3$, which is still not staggeringly low and allows citizens to afford all of the basics.
Romania Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Romania Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Romania
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Arad | 35.84 |
| Brasov | 37.13 |
| Bucharest | 40.39 |
| Cluj-Napoca | 38.13 |
| Constanta | 38.89 |
| Craiova | 31.78 |
| Iasi | 36.54 |
| Oradea | 34.35 |
| Sibiu | 35.63 |
| Timisoara | 38.19 |
Hello, minimum wage shown is gross, actual net minimum salary is around 307 USD. Average salary is pretty much accurate.