Cost Of Living in Bucharest 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Bucharest

Whether you're living in Bucharest or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Bucharest is 7,300 RON. Expenses can range from 1,000 RON at the minimum level to 48,000 RON at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Bucharest is 12,000 RON. Expenditure can range from 4,000 RON to 65,000 RON per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Bucharest is 16,000 RON per month. Families spend anywhere from 5,600 RON to 100,000 RON.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Bucharest is 5,300 RON. Students spend from 810 RON to 35,000 RON per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Bucharest

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Bucharest is 88% This means that on average, people spend around 88% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
79%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

71%

88%

Couple
83%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

75%

93%

Family
92%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

83%

100%

How do people spend their money in Bucharest?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Bucharest typically spend from 14% to 33% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average spend on housing is 3,100 RON with expenditure ranging from 240 RON to 31,000 RON. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Bucharest ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 520 RON with 40 RON and 5,200 RON being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 81 RON to 10,000 RON on commuting with 1,000 RON being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Bucharest is 2,600 RON. The cost of groceries can range between 200 RON to 26,000 RON. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Bucharest allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 56 RON to 7,300 RON with 730 RON being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 32 RON to 4,200 RON with 420 RON being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 630 RON per month with 48 RON being the minimum spent amount and 6,300 RON being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Bucharest every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Bucharest manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 63% of the surveyed people in Bucharest said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 37% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Bucharest

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 12% to 33% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 20% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 3,900 RON on average with savings ranging from 300 RON to 39,000 RON.

72% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 67% of couples said the same. 62% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Bucharest?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 15% to 35% of their monthly income to savings, with 24% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 2,700 RON with 300 RON and 18,000 RON being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 13% to 34% of their monthly income, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 4,500 RON with 1,500 RON and 24,000 RON being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Bucharest can save anywhere between 12% to 31% of their monthly income, with 19% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 6,000 RON with 2,100 RON and 39,000 RON being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Bucharest

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Bucharest. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 19% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 12% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Bucharest

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Bucharest

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Bucharest?

Around 71% of surveyed residents think that living in Bucharest is affordable with proper budgeting while 29% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Bucharest

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options60%

Few low-cost options40%

Based on the survey, 60% of the people living in Bucharest have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Bucharest whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes65%

No35%

Based on the survey, 35% of the people living in Bucharest said that they don't have an emergency fund while 65% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Romania

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy62%

We asked residents of Romania whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 38% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 62% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Romania have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 41% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 59% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance41%

Easily manages finances59%

Financial goals of people in Bucharest

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Bucharest, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 39% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 9% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Bucharest

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Bucharest and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Romania is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Bucharest about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Bucharest

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Bucharest

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 33% of the people in Bucharest have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 67% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Bucharest

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 30% of the people's monthly income in Bucharest goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Bucharest pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 16% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 13% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 15% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Bucharest

10% of debtors in Bucharest confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 18% of people and personal loans rose at 41%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Bucharest.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Bucharest

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Bucharest how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Bucharest

Rent Cost in Bucharest

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

920 RON

1,400 RON

3,700 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$200

$300

$810

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 RON

2,200 RON

5,500 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$480

$1,200

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

1,800 RON

2,800 RON

7,400 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$400

$600

$1,600

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,200 RON

3,700 RON

10,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$480

$810

$2,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

4,400 RON

11,000 RON

22,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$970

$2,400

$4,800

Townhouse monthly rent cost

3,700 RON

5,500 RON

16,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$810

$1,200

$3,500

House monthly rent cost

4,400 RON

11,000 RON

22,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$970

$2,400

$4,800

Villa monthly rent cost

5,500 RON

14,000 RON

22,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$3,000

$4,800

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Bucharest ranges between 920 RON and 3,700 RON, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,400 RON to 5,500 RON. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,800 RON and 7,400 RON per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,200 RON to 10,000 RON. The average rent of a townhouse in Bucharest is around 5,500 RON while house rental costs can be as high as 11,000 RON per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,500 RON to 22,000 RON per month.

Apartment and house prices in Bucharest

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

180,000 RON

280,000 RON

550,000 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$40,000

$60,000

$120,000

1-bedroom apartment price

220,000 RON

370,000 RON

1.4M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$48,000

$81,000

$300,000

2-bedroom apartment price

370,000 RON

1.1M RON

2.2M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$81,000

$240,000

$480,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.2M RON

1.8M RON

5.5M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$270,000

$400,000

$1.2M

Townhouse price

1.6M RON

3.7M RON

14M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$350,000

$810,000

$3M

House price

1.8M RON

11M RON

16M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$400,000

$2.4M

$3.5M

Villa price

2.2M RON

12M RON

18M RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$480,000

$2.7M

$4M

The average price of a studio apartment in Bucharest can range from 180,000 RON to 550,000 RON depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 220,000 RON to 1.4M RON. A villa can cost you 12M RON on average with prices ranging from 2.2M RON to 18M RON.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Bucharest can be x124 to x223 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x124 multiples of the average monthly salary in Bucharest.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Bucharest is around 34%. This means that people pay 34% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 23% to 44% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Bucharest

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Bucharest

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

62 RON

440 RON

2,900 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$95

$630

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

160 RON

540 RON

3,600 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$35

$120

$770

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

280 RON

810 RON

5,200 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$62

$180

$1,100

Internet and cable cost

50 RON

100 RON

130 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$22

$29

Mobile phone bill and charges

40 RON

67 RON

200 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.8

$15

$44

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Bucharest ranges between 62 RON and 2,900 RON with average being 440 RON, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 540 RON with 160 RON and 3,600 RON being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 810 RON. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 50 RON to 130 RON with 100 RON being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 67 RON but can range between 40 RON and 200 RON depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Bucharest is around 5.3%. This means that people pay 5.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.1% to 9.5% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Bucharest

Prices and cost of goods and services in Bucharest

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

10 RON

20 RON

33 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.2

$4.4

$7.3

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Bucharest is approximatly 20 RON with meal cost ranging from 10 RON to 33 RON. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

35 RON

53 RON

110 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.7

$12

$23

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 35 RON and 110 RON with 53 RON being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Bucharest.

Fine dining meal for one price

70 RON

110 RON

420 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$15

$23

$92

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 70 RON to 420 RON with the average cost being 110 RON for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Bucharest.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

8.4 RON

13 RON

20 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.9

$4.4

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Bucharest is around 13 RON. Price ranges between 8.4 RON and 20 RON depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

6.7 RON

8 RON

10 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$1.8

$2.2

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Bucharest is 8 RON. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 10 RON and the minimum being 6.7 RON depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

5 RON

6.7 RON

10 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.2

A dozen eggs costs around 6.7 RON on average with 5 RON and 10 RON being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

11 RON

15 RON

21 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.5

$3.2

$4.6

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Bucharest is between 11 RON and 21 RON depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 15 RON.

Pack of beef price

13 RON

20 RON

40 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.9

$4.4

$8.8

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 20 RON. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

5.4 RON

7.4 RON

10 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$1.6

$2.3

A bag of rice in Bucharest costs around 7.4 RON on average with prices rangeing between 5.4 RON and 10 RON depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

2 RON

2.7 RON

5 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.44

$0.58

$1.1

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2 RON to 5 RON. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

3.6 RON

4.7 RON

7.7 RON

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.78

$1

$1.7

A bag of apples costs 4.7 RON on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Bucharest is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 34% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 1,200 RON per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 160 RON and 7,700 RON depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 1,700 RON per month. That number can be get as low as 560 RON or a high as 9,000 RON. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 1,000 RON to 19,000 RON with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Bucharest

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Bucharest

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Bucharest

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Bucharest