Romania is a country which is yet to be discovered by the majority of the world. It’s a country full of history, varying landscapes, a welcoming people and a growing economy. Romania is surrounded by the Carpathian mountains and is home to Transylvania and the Dracula legend. Sadly, due to the lack of employment opportunities, many young people are leaving Romania to find employment elsewhere in Europe.

If you are considering moving to Romania, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in Romania.

Quick Romania Facts:

Population: 18,950,628 (2022 estimate)
Official Language:Romanian is an official language. Minority languages such as Romani and Hungarian are also spoken.
GDP Per Capita:US$12,200
Bran Castle: Romania’s castles, mediaeval villages and glorious landscapes are a huge drawcard. Bran Castle is the most visited every year as it’s meant to have been Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Count Dracula.
Currency: Romanian Leu (lei or RON). As of October 2022, £1 = $1.09, €1 = $0.97, $1 lei1= $0.02, $1 AUD = $0.65

Sections

1. Romanian Housing Costs

Most Romanians own their homes, especially in the rural areas, where homes have often belonged to the same family for generations. Property is very affordable and rentals are low, especially compared with other European countries. As with most countries, property in the major cities is more expensive than in rural areas where the infrastructure is poor and employment is scarce.

Monthly Rental Prices in Romania

1 bedroom apartment in City Centre: lei1,100 – lei2,500
1 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: lei800 – lei1,800
3 bedroom apartment in City Centre: lei1,800 – lei5,000
3 bedroom apartment outside the City Centre: lei1,485 – lei3,000
Price per square meter (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: lei5,000 – lei15,000
Price per square meter (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: lei4,000 – lei10,071

Romanian Housing Cost Comparison

This is how rents in Romania compare with other countries around the globe:

United Kingdom is 208.35% more expensive
United States is 411.64% more expensive
Canada is 245.46% more expensive
Australia is 198.10% more expensive
Germany is 161.83% more expensive
Italy is 105.27% more expensive
France is 163.92% more expensive
Spain is 119.35% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs

Share an apartment or house. Have a look at the following sites to find your perfect room or flatmate: iRoommates, com, Erasmusu, Reverso Context, and OK Roommate.com
Different regions – different prices. The housing costs in Romanian cities vary considerably. The smaller towns have very affordable rentals, and larger cities such as Bucharest, Cluj, and Timisoara are generally more expensive.

2. Romania Food, Grocery, and Restaurant Costs

Traditional Romanian food has many influences which reflect its history. Turkey, Hungary, various Balkan countries and countries from central Europe all play a part in producing a food culture which is an integral part of the various festivals and religious holidays found in Romania. Romania is full of restaurants, cafes and bars which encourage customers to try local dishes.

Inexpensive Restaurant: lei21 – lei60
Takeout Coffee: lei4.95 – lei14
Bottle of Coke: lei4 – lei10
1L of milk: lei4 – lei8
Loaf of Bread: lei2 – lei7.5
12 Eggs: lei6 – lei15
1kg Chicken Fillets: lei12 – lei30
1kg Beef: lei23 – lei60
1kg Apples: lei2.5 – lei6
1kg White Rice: lei3.5 – lei9

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

UK restaurants are 102.01% more expensive, and groceries are 54.45% more expensive than in Romania.
United States restaurants are 123.69% more expensive, and groceries are 145.67% more expensive than in Romania.
Australian restaurants are 98.60% more expensive, and groceries are 135.13% more expensive than in Romania.
Canadian restaurants are 98.86% more expensive, and groceries are 109.80% more expensive than in Romania.
French restaurants are 104.03% more expensive, and groceries are 108.97% more expensive than in Romania.
German restaurants are 70.17% more expensive, and groceries are 58.62% more expensive than in Romania.
Spanish restaurants are 56.87% more expensive, and groceries are 30.75% more expensive than in Romania.
Italian restaurants are 88.26% more expensive, and groceries are 63.96% more expensive than in Romania.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants, and Groceries

Know your supermarkets: Romania has a good range of foods to suit most cultures. Many farmers’ markets sell great fresh produce in most areas of Romania. There are also excellent health food stores that sell organic foods in the major cities. Popular supermarkets in Romania are Carrefour, Lidl, Mega Image, Bio Shop Romania, and Auchan
Find Cheap Eats: Eating out in Romania is very affordable compared to other EU countries. Also, if you hunt around, you will find some good restaurants that offer specials on various days of the week. Have a look at the following sites for suggestions – Trip Advisor, Wanderlog, La Mama, Maroon Restaurant Cafe, Za Lokal, and La Nenea Lancu

3. Romanian Alcohol Costs

Romania has a reputation for heavy drinking, especially among the male population. This could be because alcohol prices are lower than in other EU countries and social drinking is an integral part of everyday life in Romania.

Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: lei7.00 – lei15.00
Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: lei4.95 – lei12.00
Pint (0.5L) domestic beer at a supermarket: lei2.80 – lei5.20
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: lei4.00 – lei 9.00
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: lei15.00 – lei 40.00

How to drink for less in Romania

Keep an eye on the local papers and flyers for cheap drinks, either in supermarkets or bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Many bars and restaurants have Happy Hour specials after work, usually from 4 pm to 7 pm. Have a look at the following sites for more tips on where to go to save money on a night out – Trip Advisor, Like a Local, True Club, Beluga, Abel’s Wine Bar, Shoteria, and Londoner Pub

4. Romania Transportation Fares

Most Romanians don’t own cars and reply on public transport to get around. Train, light rail, and bus routes are available in the cities. The train network is excellent and very affordable. Even people in the smallest villages don’t have to travel more than 10kms to pick up a train. Have a look at Romanian Friend for detailed information on getting around Romania by public transport.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult Single – lei2.00 – lei4.00
Monthly season ticket, unlimited – lei60.00 – lei125.00
Taxi start (normal tariff) – lei2.10 – lei3.56
Taxi 1km (normal tariff) – lei2.00 – lei3.50

How to save money on public transport

The train is the cheapest way to travel in Romania
Buy a weekly season ticket lei25
Use a MaxiTaxi (minibus)
Use Activ or Multiplu card to travel on trams, trolleybuses, and Bucharest’s buses
Walking or cycling are good option for a shorter distances

5. Cost of Internet in Romania

Romania has a super-fast fixed broadband internet connection. Romania is listed 14th out of 182 countries for average broadband speed.

DIGI – $4.90/mo for 10 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload
Telekom – $6.86/mo for 150 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload

6. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym, and Leisure

Romania has a temperate-continental climate with warm summers and snowy, cold winters. The average temperature in winter is 3C, and in summer it ranges from 22C and 24C. The southern part of the country has annual average temperature of 11C, and the northern region’s annual average temperature is 8C.

The north of Romania enjoys 1900/2000 hours of sunshine per year, and the valleys of Transylvania have 2,100/2,220 hours of sunny weather per annum. The wettest month in Romania is June, and the average rainfall is 90mm.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

Pair of Jeans: lei110 – lei500
Summer Dress: lei80 – lei250
Running Shoes (Trainers): lei210 – lei500
Business Shoes: lei250 – lei550
Short Doctor’s visit (15 mins): lei192
Deodorant: lei17
Shampoo: lei21
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): lei8
Gym membership: lei100 – lei250 per month
Movie (cinema) ticket: lei23 – lei40

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

7. Cost of Owning and Driving a Car in Romania

One of Romania’s claim to fame is being the least safe EU country to drive in due to the exceptionally high accident rate. You can drive on your own country’s driving licence for 90 days, and then, depending on where your licence was issued, you may need to get a Romanian driving licence. Note that non-Eu citizens can only get a Romanian licence if they officially live in Romania. Expert World Travel provides a lot of useful information on driving in Romania.

Here are some sample costs of owning and operating a car in Romania:

Volkswagen Golf:lei85,000
1 liter (¼ gallon) of gas (petrol):lei7.40 – lei9.00
Other fees (if any):The average cost of owning and running a car in Romania is lei20,436 per annum

Source: Numbeo, Roadzen

Ways to save money driving in Romania

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Car Pool World and Blablacar
Uber is available in Romania.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you have to park all day. Try Bucharest Taxi, Star Taxi, and Kiwi Taxi

Need your car/vehicle moved to Romania? Then read our guide to Car Transport & Vehicle Shipping

8. Taxes in Romania

The personal income tax rate in Romania is 10%. This is encouraging a lot of companies and freelancers to set up business in Romania.

The standard rate of VAT is 19%, which applies to all goods and services, including imports. However, the government has reduced VAT to 9% for special items such as foodstuff, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment for disabled persons etc. To learn more about the Romanian tax system, go to Romanian taxes.

If you own your home, you will be subject to property tax, which is between 0.08% – 0.2% for residential buildings. Non- residential buildings tax rates range 0.2% to1.3%. Learn more about property tax in Romania at this government website.

9. Flight Costs from Romania

If you do make a move to Romania, here’s how much it will cost approximately to fly to other major world cities from Bucharest based on the lowest one-way fares from Skyscanner as of late 2022:

London: lei750
Paris: lei812
New York: lei1,650
Toronto: lei:1,423
Berlin: lei723
Madrid: lei 654
Dubai: lei2,749
Sydney: lei14,970
Cape Town: lei3,014
Hong Kong: lei3,378

Other Romanian Relocation Tips

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Romania, but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

10. Relocating to Romania Alone

Moving is always stressful, but moving on your own can be exceptionally difficult. Thankfully Romania is a country that is safe and welcomes newcomers. Here are a few tips about settling in Romania.

Meetups:Romania has many Meetup groups covering a wide range of activities from meditation sessions to financial advice, runs and nights out on the town.
Attend local events: There is always something going on in every part Romania, and many of the activities are free. Have a look at the following sites for inspiration – Touropia, Romania Insider, Eventbrite, and Trip Advisor.

11. Moving to Romania with a Family

Romania is a family-friendly country which welcomes families with open arms. There’s so much for children to see and enjoy in Romania, from the fairy tale castles to the quaint villages.

New parents (or parents to be):Check out Expat Mums in Romania for advice, courses, and ways to meet other parents or parents-to-be.
Live in a family-friendly area:Find the best family-friendly region and area to live in at Romania Journal.
Find things to do with the kids:Romania has lots for children to do. Have a look at the following website for inspiration – Ciaobambino, Expedia, Traveling Canucks, and Inspirock.

12. Moving to Romania for Work

Moving to a new county for work is one of the most common reasons people choose to move. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make a move.

Textiles, IT, auto, chemicals, food processing, construction, mining and timber processing are the dominant industries in Romania.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary:Salaries in Romania vary considerably depending on your profession and position within a company. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to be made to make a move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on Glassdoor and Salary Explorer.
How to find work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Romania but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Indeed, Best Jobs, MDPI, and Job Board Search Engine. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

13. Moving to Romania from Australia

The few Australian citizens who have emigrated to Romania say they love the lifestyle and the climate. If you are thinking of moving from Australia to Romania, here are a few things to consider.

Size comparison:Romania is approximately 32 times smaller than Australia. Plus, Australia has 21 million more residents than Romania.
Join expat groups:Meetup, Internations, and com offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Romania.

14. Moving to Romania from the United States

There are quite a number of Americans living and working in Romania. If you’d like to join them, consider the following: –

Size: the United States is about 14 times bigger than Romania, and 311.3 million more people live in the US.
Expat groups:Meeting up with fellow Americans helps the moving process. Link up through sites such as Internations and Meetup.

15. Moving to Romania from the United Kingdom

There are between 3,000 and 4,000 Brits living in Romania, mainly freelancers/digital nomads who are drawn by the low tax rate. If you’re considering to move Romania, here are a few bonus tips:

Size: The UK and Romania have relatively the same land mass, and Romania is 97.86% the size of the UK. However, 44.5 million more people live in the United Kingdom.
Expat groups:If you want to get together with others from the UK who enjoy everything Romania has to offer, then go to Internations and Meetup.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If you want to start pricing out how much it will cost to move to Romania, you can start by comparing moving quotes here.

Moving to Romania? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips