Capital city, Romania
Cost of living in Bucharest
How much a month costs in Bucharest
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,370–2,000 (lei6,500–9,500).
Prices in Bucharest
Typical 2026 ranges in RON, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | RON | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | lei2,500–4,500 | $527–949 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | lei1,800–3,000 | $380–633 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | lei70–130 | $15–27 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | lei250–500 | $53–105 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | lei25–45 | $5.3–9.5 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | lei70–140 | $15–30 |
| Cappuccino | lei12–20 | $2.5–4.2 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | lei12–22 | $2.5–4.6 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | lei3–6 | $0.6–1.3 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | lei20–35 | $4.2–7.4 |
| Work and life | ||
| Coworking day pass | lei60–120 | $13–25 |
| Gym membership (month) | lei150–350 | $32–74 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | lei30–60 | $6.3–12.7 |
Value for money: 66/100
A value score of 66/100 means Bucharest gives more quality of life per dollar than 65% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 74/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 10 places we cover in Romania.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Romania
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Sighișoara | $949–1,370 | 90/100 |
| Brașov | $1,160–1,690 | 77/100 |
| Sibiu | $1,160–1,690 | 83/100 |
| Constanța | $1,160–1,690 | 78/100 |
| Danube Delta | $1,160–1,790 | 71/100 |
| Timișoara | $1,270–1,790 | 74/100 |
| Oradea | $1,270–1,900 | 69/100 |
| Cluj-Napoca | $1,370–1,900 | 68/100 |
| Bucharest | $1,370–2,000 | 66/100 |
| Iași | $1,370–2,000 | 63/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Bucharest
Similar safety, lower cost, in Europe.
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Bucharest?
About $738–1,050 on a lean budget, $1,370–2,000 for a comfortable month and $2,740–4,220 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Bucharest?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs lei2,500–4,500 ($527–949) a month in the center and lei1,800–3,000 ($380–633) outside it.
How much does food cost in Bucharest?
A local meal is lei25–45 ($5.3–9.5); a mid-range restaurant is lei70–140 ($15–30) per person.
Is Romania expensive?
Prices in Romania are about 44% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Bucharest
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Metrorex
- Bucharest Airports
- Bolt Bucharest
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.