Cost of Living

Bucharest, Romania

Live cost-of-living data for Bucharest — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
22/ 10078% cheaper than New York
-7% rent since Jul 2026
$1,170/mo
Median Income
71/100
Safety
10%
Income Tax
continental
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
30/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$630/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$420/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,150/month
Food & Groceries
25/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.4/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$23/month
One-Way Ticket$1.2/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.9/km
Utilities
20/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$92/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$22/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$15/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$45/visit
Dentist Visit$55/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
40/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$250/course
Entertainment
35/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$7.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$8/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
30/100
Haircut (Men)$12/cut
Haircut (Women)$25/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2.8/bottle
Dining Out
28/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$7.5/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$40/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5.5/meal
Childcare
35/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$450/month
Babysitter (per hour)$8/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$12/pack
Fitness & Sports
30/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$25/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$12/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

260 Mbps
Internet Speed
$175
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
65/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Floreasca, Old Town, Dorobanți

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bucharest cheap to live in?

Bucharest has a cost of living index of 22/100, where New York = 100. It is 78% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $800–$1,120 per month.

How much does rent cost in Bucharest?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Bucharest costs approximately $630/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $420/month.

Is Bucharest good for digital nomads?

Bucharest has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 260 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $175/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Bucharest?

The median net monthly salary in Bucharest is approximately $1,170 USD. The income tax rate is around 10%.

How does Bucharest compare to New York for cost of living?

Bucharest (cost index 22) is 78% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,950/month by moving from New York to Bucharest.

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