Cost of Living in Romania

Living costs in Romania are considerably lower than in many Western European countries, making it an attractive destination for both expats and tourists. Even though Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca offer affordable entertainment, food, and housing options, they have a higher cost of living. A comfortable lifestyle is possible in Romania at a low cost of living compared to other more developed European nations.

Romania tends to be one of the most attractive and cheap countries and a very nice place to live for expats. The cost of living in Romania is 58% cheaper than in the United Kingdom.

What salary do you need to live in Romania?

Romania’s minimum salary for 2023 is 3,000 Lei gross, 1,863 Lei net. On minimum wage, someone would earn around € 375 per month.

For a decent life in Romania in 2023, a couple should expect to spend about €1,700 monthly.

Can I open a bank account in Romania as a non-resident?

Banking in Romania is relatively straightforward and easy. To open a bank account, you only need your passport, residency proof and a previous bank statement. Sometimes, you may be required to present a salary slip or employment contract.

Keep in mind that you’ll face difficulties with communication, as most Romanians don’t speak English. We recommend that you go with a Romanian-speaking friend and call the bank before arriving to find out their working hours since most of the banks are understaffed.

Accommodation costs in Romania

The accommodation cost in Romania can be as expensive as you want it to be. We mean that you can find a comfortable place in the city centre for 350 GBP (2.083 RON), but most of the expats prefer to live in more expensive communities. That’s because most of the apartments in Bucharest are very old and need serious repairs. So, when moving to Romania, you have two options – to choose a modern but expensive or cheap but old, Soviet-style apartment.

In Romania, you should budget for your utility bills, too, as there is no tendency for their cost to be included in the rent. When searching for accommodation, it’s a good idea to hire a reputable real estate agency since there are so many scammers and dodgy landlords. This will also help you with the negotiations since most of the landlords may not speak English. Keep in mind that, in Romania, a three-(bed)room property refers to the total number of rooms and not to the number of bedrooms, and studios are called “garsoniera”.

Cost of utility bills

The cost of utilities in Romania varies, depending on the season and the location you’re living in, as local heating providers have different prices. For example, if it’s a cold season, you should expect to pay around 690 RON monthly for heating. Romania is also known for its fast and cheap internet, actually the fastest download speed in all of Europe.

So, for your monthly electricity, heating, water supply and waste disposal bills, you’ll need to put aside about 694 RON (£117). To have Internet (60 Mbps or more), you would be paying roughly 37.01 RON (6.47 GBP) per month.

Transportation expenses

Public transport in Romania is very cheap, but the quality is not that great. However, the city centres have good connections with all neighbourhoods, but if you live very far from the centre, you’ll need to change two or more buses to get to certain places.

The expats living in Romania prefer to travel by taxi since it’s almost impossible to find information written in English regarding how to use public transport and where to buy tickets from. There is also Uber in Romania, and their rates are similar to the taxi ones, except that they can get much higher in rush hour.

Trains in Romania are very, very slow, and it may take you ages to get to your destination. Maybe, the only routes that are worth travelling by train are Bucharest – Constanta and Bucharest – Brasov. For other locations, we recommend you take a flight or bus. Let’s take a look at some transportation prices in Romania:

Cost of necessities

Food items in Romania are generally less expensive than in the UK. Supermarket prices in Romania are significantly lower, especially for locally produced goods. Imported goods and speciality items can be priced closer to UK levels, but staples like bread, vegetables, and dairy products are typically much cheaper.

Overall, the cost of food in Romania is roughly 30%–50% lower than in the UK. Dining out, groceries and basic food items are more affordable, making Romania a budget-friendly option for everyday living expenses.

Attire and personal care

Most things are way cheaper in Romania than in Western Europe unless you’re very committed to wearing clothes and shoes by a particularly popular brand. So, if you’re not after only luxurious branded items, the cost of personal care stuff and clothing won’t break the bank.

Below are some examples of what some recreational or sports activities, as well as clothing, can cost you in Romania.

In conclusion

Moving to Romania has its perks and drawbacks, like with any other country. However, the good definitely outweighs the bad. The country boasts amazing natural and historical sites, and expats find it very affordable to live in due to their higher income.

Furthermore, the Romanians are friendly folks, although they may shy away from making an effort to speak to you in English. So, it’s not a bad idea if you try to learn some basic Romanian – the locals will be thrilled. And if you need removal assistance to relocate to the land of Dracula, you can count on Fantastic Removals’ international moving services anytime.

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