Cost of living in Bucharest

Romania · Eastern Europe · RON · Very cheap

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Bucharest, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $3,354 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Bucharest travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$1,584
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$1,080
Local transport$330
Miscellaneous$360
All-in monthly$3,354

Local currency: RON. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $1,197 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $171/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $112/day

Comparable cities

  • Cheaper alternative: Amman — ~$3,012/mo
  • Similar cost: Buenos Aires — ~$3,354/mo
  • Pricier alternative: Budapest — ~$3,822/mo