Cost Of Living For a Student in Bucharest 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: RON
Average monthly spending for students in Bucharest
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Bucharest?
Students in Bucharest spend around 6,700 RON per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,000 RON or as high as 75,000 RON. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Bucharest
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 29,000 RON | 59,000 RON | 79,000 RON |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 1,200 RON | 1,800 RON | 4,700 RON |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,800 RON | 2,900 RON | 7,300 RON |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2,500 RON | 3,700 RON | 9,900 RON |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 250,000 RON | 370,000 RON | 740,000 RON |
1-bedroom apartment
| 310,000 RON | 510,000 RON | 1.9M RON |
| $67,000 | $110,000 | $420,000 |
2-bedroom apartment
| 470,000 RON | 1.4M RON | 2.8M RON |
| $100,000 | $310,000 | $620,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,200 RON | 1,500 RON | 2,000 RON |
Double Bed
| 830 RON | 1,200 RON | 1,600 RON |
Single Bed
| 750 RON | 980 RON | 1,300 RON |
Living Room
| 1,500 RON | 1,900 RON | 6,500 RON |
Dining Table
| 610 RON | 810 RON | 1,500 RON |
Sofa or Couch
| 830 RON | 1,100 RON | 2,500 RON |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 840 RON | 1,300 RON | 2,500 RON |
Fridge or Freezer
| 760 RON | 1,200 RON | 1,600 RON |
Washing Machine
| 920 RON | 1,300 RON | 2,400 RON |
Stove or Cooker
| 880 RON | 1,100 RON | 1,500 RON |
Mobile Phone
| 1,000 RON | 1,300 RON | 1,800 RON |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,200 RON | 1,400 RON | 2,600 RON |
How do students spend their money in Bucharest?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $54 250 RON |
| AVERAGE | $350 1,600 RON |
| HIGH | $3,900 18,000 RON |
| Per Month |
Students in Bucharest typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,600 RON with expenditure ranging from 250 RON to 18,000 RON. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $8 37 RON |
| AVERAGE | $52 240 RON |
| HIGH | $580 2,700 RON |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Bucharest ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 240 RON with 37 RON and 2,700 RON being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $15 69 RON |
| AVERAGE | $98 450 RON |
| HIGH | $1,100 5,000 RON |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 69 RON to 5,000 RON in a month on commuting with 450 RON being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $42 190 RON |
| AVERAGE | $270 1,300 RON |
| HIGH | $3,100 14,000 RON |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Bucharest is 1,300 RON. The cost of groceries can range between 190 RON to 14,000 RON. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $11 51 RON |
| AVERAGE | $73 340 RON |
| HIGH | $810 3,700 RON |
| Per Month |
Students in Bucharest allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 51 RON to 3,700 RON with 340 RON being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $11 48 RON |
| AVERAGE | $69 310 RON |
| HIGH | $760 3,500 RON |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 48 RON to 3,500 RON with 310 RON being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $40 180 RON |
| AVERAGE | $260 1,200 RON |
| HIGH | $2,900 13,000 RON |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,200 RON per month with 180 RON being the minimum spent amount and 13,000 RON being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $33 150 RON |
| AVERAGE | $220 990 RON |
| HIGH | $2,400 11,000 RON |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Bucharest
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Bucharest?
Around 67% of surveyed students think that living in Bucharest is affordable with proper budgeting while 33% 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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options57%
Few low-cost options43%
Based on the survey, 57% of the students living in Bucharest have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 43% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes62%
No38%
Based on the survey, 38% of the students living in Bucharest said that they don't have an emergency fund while 62% said that they do.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Bucharest
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Bucharest
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 240 RON. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 65 RON to 170 RON with 130 RON being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 70 RON but can range between 42 RON and 210 RON depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Bucharest is around 5.9%. This means that people pay 5.9% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.4% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Financial Literacy in
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 student guardians and parents in Bucharest 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 students of 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Bucharest
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Bucharest
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,200 RON | 1,800 RON | 4,700 RON |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,800 RON | 2,900 RON | 7,300 RON |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,500 RON | 3,700 RON | 9,900 RON |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,100 RON | 5,100 RON | 14,000 RON |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,800 RON | 15,000 RON | 29,000 RON |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 4,800 RON | 7,100 RON | 20,000 RON |
House monthly rent cost
| 5,800 RON | 15,000 RON | 29,000 RON |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 7,100 RON | 18,000 RON | 28,000 RON |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Bucharest ranges between 1,200 RON and 4,700 RON, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,800 RON to 7,300 RON. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,500 RON and 9,900 RON per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3,100 RON to 14,000 RON. The average rent of a townhouse in Bucharest is around 7,100 RON while house rental costs can be as high as 15,000 RON per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 7,100 RON to 28,000 RON per month.
Apartment and house prices in Bucharest
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 250,000 RON | 370,000 RON | 740,000 RON |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 310,000 RON | 510,000 RON | 1.9M RON |
| $67,000 | $110,000 | $420,000 |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 470,000 RON | 1.4M RON | 2.8M RON |
| $100,000 | $310,000 | $620,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.6M RON | 2.4M RON | 7.3M RON |
Townhouse price
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Bucharest can range from 250,000 RON to 740,000 RON depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 310,000 RON to 1.9M RON. A villa can cost you 17M RON on average with prices ranging from 3.1M RON to 25M RON.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Bucharest will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 54 | x160 monthly income | 287 |
Property prices in Bucharest can be x160 to x287 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x160 multiples of the average monthly salary in Bucharest.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Bucharest is around 39%. This means that people pay 39% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 27% to 51% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
30% 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.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Bucharest
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
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
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 25 RON with meal cost ranging from 12 RON to 41 RON. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 43 RON and 130 RON with 64 RON being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Bucharest.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 82 RON to 490 RON with the average cost being 120 RON for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Bucharest.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Bucharest is around 17 RON. Price ranges between 11 RON and 25 RON depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Bucharest is 10 RON. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 13 RON and the minimum being 8.6 RON depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 8.2 RON on average with 6.1 RON and 12 RON being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Bucharest is between 15 RON and 27 RON depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 19 RON.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 27 RON. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Bucharest costs around 8.9 RON on average with prices rangeing between 6.5 RON and 13 RON depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.5 RON to 6.2 RON. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 5.9 RON on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 190 RON to 14,000 RON with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Published: May 7, 2024 Last Update: May 10, 2025
