Cost of Living in Bucharest
Romania
Monthly budget (single)
$1,231–$1,949/month
lei5,595 – lei8,859 (local currency)
Last updated: 2026-03
Can you afford to live in Bucharest?
Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).
Cost breakdown
| Category | USD | Local currency |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $923–$1,436 | lei4,195 – lei6,527 |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $487–$769 | lei2,214 – lei3,495 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $38–$74 | lei173 – lei336 |
| Internet & Mobile | $15–$26 | lei68 – lei118 |
| Groceries (monthly) | $195–$292 | lei886 – lei1,327 |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $26–$46 | lei118 – lei209 |
| Coffee | $2–$3 | lei9 – lei14 |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $49–$59 | lei223 – lei268 |
| Gym membership | $18–$33 | lei82 – lei150 |
| Cinema ticket | $7–$9 | lei32 – lei41 |
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,231–$1,949/mo USD
lei5,595 – lei8,859
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
- Groceries: ~$292/mo
- Transport: ~$59/mo
Couple
$1,949–$2,974/mo USD
lei8,859 – lei13,518
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
- Groceries: ~$292/mo
- Transport: ~$59/mo
Family
$2,821–$4,359/mo USD
lei12,823 – lei19,814
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,436/mo
- Groceries: ~$292/mo
- Transport: ~$59/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Bucharest Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,154–$1,795/mo (lei5,245 – lei8,159)
Bucharest Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,015–$1,580/mo (lei4,614 – lei7,182)
Bucharest Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $738–$1,149/mo (lei3,355 – lei5,223)
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Very affordable
- • Fast internet
- • EU member
❌ Cons
- • Traffic
- • Infrastructure gaps
Similar cities & cheaper alternatives
Cheaper alternatives
Compare Bucharest with another city
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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.