Cost of Living in Romania 2025
Romania offers one of the best value propositions in Europe: EU membership, fast internet, beautiful landscapes, and a cost of living 50-60% lower than Western Europe. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what you can expect to spend living in Romania.
Monthly Budget Overview
| Lifestyle |
Bucharest |
Cluj |
Timisoara |
| Budget (single) |
€1,000-1,300 |
€800-1,100 |
€700-1,000 |
| Comfortable (single) |
€1,500-2,000 |
€1,200-1,600 |
€1,000-1,400 |
| Comfortable (couple) |
€2,000-2,800 |
€1,600-2,200 |
€1,400-2,000 |
| Family (2 kids) |
€3,000-4,500 |
€2,500-3,500 |
€2,200-3,200 |
Rent
Housing is the biggest expense but still very affordable by European standards:
Bucharest
| Type |
City Center |
Outside Center |
| Studio/1-bed |
€500-800 |
€350-500 |
| 2-bedroom |
€700-1,100 |
€500-700 |
| 3-bedroom |
€1,000-1,500 |
€700-1,000 |
| House |
€1,500-3,000 |
€800-1,500 |
Cluj-Napoca
| Type |
City Center |
Outside Center |
| Studio/1-bed |
€400-600 |
€300-450 |
| 2-bedroom |
€550-800 |
€400-600 |
| 3-bedroom |
€800-1,200 |
€600-900 |
Timisoara
| Type |
City Center |
Outside Center |
| Studio/1-bed |
€350-500 |
€250-400 |
| 2-bedroom |
€450-700 |
€350-500 |
| 3-bedroom |
€650-1,000 |
€500-750 |
Tips:
- Rent is typically paid monthly, 1-2 months deposit required
- Furnished apartments are common and often only slightly more expensive
- Search on Imobiliare.ro, Storia.ro, or Facebook expat groups
- Agents typically charge 50-100% of one month’s rent
Utilities
| Utility |
Monthly Cost |
| Electricity |
€30-60 |
| Gas/Heating |
€20-80 (higher in winter) |
| Water |
€10-20 |
| Internet (fiber) |
€8-12 |
| Mobile phone |
€5-15 |
| Total |
€70-150 |
Note: Romania has some of Europe’s fastest and cheapest internet. 1Gbps fiber is standard in cities.
Food & Groceries
Groceries (Monthly)
| Shopping Style |
Single Person |
Couple |
| Budget (local markets, cooking) |
€150-200 |
€250-350 |
| Moderate (supermarkets, some dining) |
€250-350 |
€400-500 |
| Premium (organic, imported goods) |
€400-500 |
€600-800 |
Grocery Prices
| Item |
Price (€) |
| Bread (500g) |
0.60-1.00 |
| Milk (1L) |
1.00-1.50 |
| Eggs (12) |
2.50-3.50 |
| Chicken breast (1kg) |
5.00-7.00 |
| Rice (1kg) |
1.50-2.50 |
| Apples (1kg) |
1.00-2.00 |
| Tomatoes (1kg) |
1.50-3.00 |
| Local cheese (1kg) |
6.00-10.00 |
| Wine (bottle) |
3.00-10.00 |
| Beer (0.5L) |
0.80-1.50 |
Dining Out
| Type |
Price (€) |
| Cheap meal (fast food, takeaway) |
4-7 |
| Mid-range restaurant (main course) |
8-15 |
| Fine dining (3 courses) |
30-60 |
| Coffee (cappuccino) |
2-3 |
| Beer at bar |
2-4 |
| Cocktail |
5-10 |
Transportation
| Type |
Cost |
| Monthly public transport pass |
€15-25 |
| Single bus/metro ticket |
€0.50 |
| Uber/Bolt (5km ride) |
€3-5 |
| Taxi (per km) |
€0.40-0.60 |
| Gasoline (per liter) |
€1.40-1.60 |
| Monthly car insurance |
€30-80 |
| Parking (city center, hourly) |
€0.50-2 |
Healthcare
Private Healthcare (Recommended for Expats)
| Service |
Cost (€) |
| GP consultation |
25-50 |
| Specialist consultation |
40-80 |
| Private health insurance (monthly) |
50-150 |
| Dental cleaning |
30-50 |
| Dental filling |
30-60 |
| Blood tests (comprehensive) |
50-100 |
Romania is known for excellent dental care at low prices – many expats combine visits with dental tourism.
Entertainment & Lifestyle
| Activity |
Cost (€) |
| Gym membership (monthly) |
25-50 |
| Cinema ticket |
5-8 |
| Theater/Opera ticket |
5-30 |
| Museum entry |
2-5 |
| Yoga/fitness class |
8-15 |
| Haircut (men) |
8-15 |
| Haircut (women) |
15-40 |
| Domestic cleaning (hourly) |
8-12 |
Education (International Schools)
| School Type |
Annual Tuition (€) |
| International schools (Bucharest) |
8,000-18,000 |
| International schools (other cities) |
5,000-12,000 |
| Private Romanian schools |
3,000-6,000 |
| Public schools |
Free |
Sample Monthly Budgets
Single Professional in Bucharest – Comfortable (€1,800/month)
- Rent (1-bed, central): €650
- Utilities: €100
- Groceries: €300
- Dining out (8x): €150
- Transport (Uber + metro): €80
- Entertainment: €150
- Health insurance: €80
- Gym: €40
- Phone + internet: €20
- Miscellaneous: €230
Couple in Cluj – Comfortable (€2,200/month)
- Rent (2-bed, central): €700
- Utilities: €120
- Groceries: €450
- Dining out: €200
- Transport: €80
- Entertainment: €200
- Health insurance: €150
- Gym (2 people): €70
- Phone + internet: €30
- Miscellaneous: €200
Family (2 kids) in Timisoara – Comfortable (€3,000/month)
- Rent (3-bed house): €900
- Utilities: €150
- Groceries: €600
- Dining out: €150
- Car costs: €200
- Activities/entertainment: €200
- Health insurance: €250
- Kids activities: €150
- Miscellaneous: €400
How to Save Money
- Shop at local markets – Piata Obor (Bucharest), Piata Mihai Viteazu (Cluj) have fresh produce at great prices
- Use Uber/Bolt – Often cheaper than taxis, especially for longer rides
- Cook at home – Restaurant markup is lower than Western Europe but home cooking is still much cheaper
- Get Romanian health insurance – Local private plans are much cheaper than international coverage
- Avoid expat areas for rent – Floreasca in Bucharest is pricey; consider Militari or Titan for 30-40% savings
Compared to Other Countries
| City |
Monthly Cost (Single) |
vs. Romania |
| Bucharest |
€1,500 |
Baseline |
| Berlin |
€2,800 |
+87% |
| London |
€3,500 |
+133% |
| Paris |
€3,200 |
+113% |
| Amsterdam |
€3,000 |
+100% |
| Prague |
€2,000 |
+33% |
| Budapest |
€1,700 |
+13% |
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