In general, Bucharest is certainly cheaper than cities in Western Europe or the USA, but more expensive than in other parts of the world. It's somewhere in the middle, if you want.
An interesting fact about living in the Romanian capital is that, although housing is cheaper than in other major European cities, you will find that food and clothing are on par with Western prices, sometimes even bigger for luxury products.
The cost of renting in Bucharest
If you need a temporary home in Bucharest, the rent will vary depending on the location and whether or not the apartment is fully furnished.
Keep in mind that there is a big difference between old buildings, dating from the communist period, which doesn't look too good, and the modern ones, with elegant marble lobbies and private parking.
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The cost of buying a house in Bucharest
One more time, prices vary widely. If you want to buy a house in the center of Bucharest, the price per square meter is about 2.190 of dollars, while outside the city center is about 1.340 dollars per square meter.
You can find modern residential buildings in the city center, but most smart residential projects are on the outskirts of the city, most in the north. A little awkward when it comes to daily commuting, but otherwise these projects are often by Western standards.
The cost of utilities in Bucharest
It depends on where you live. The average cost of utilities for a three-room apartment in a normal block of flats is about 100 dollars a month, and that includes all utilities. Keep in mind that costs are lower in the summer months, but they can overcome 100 dollars in the winter, when you have to pay for central heating.
However, if you choose to live in a residential complex, the cost of utilities can reach up to 400 of dollars, because you have to pay a lot of extra costs, such as security and parking.
The cost of transport in Bucharest
Public transport in Bucharest is cheap compared to other European capitals. Starting in August 2020, the cost of a bus or subway trip is 0,34 cents. The public transportation system is not the best in the world. If you want to go to the center of the city, It's ok, but it is not the best choice if you have to cross the city.
A taxi ride costs money 0,48$ per kilometer and you have both regular taxis, as well as ride-sharing services like Uber.
The cost of food in Bucharest
Most grocery stores in Bucharest have a lot of local products, as well as a wide range of food imported from Western European countries. How much you spend on food depends on how big your family is and your preferences.
Let's take a look at some basic items.
A white loaf of 500 g costs 0,76 USD, while 1 l of milk costs 1,19 USD.
As for the fruit, 1 kg of apples is 1,10 USD, and 1 kg of oranges is 1,36 USD.
A bottle of mid-range wine costs 6 USD. while the local beer is 0,84 dollars for a bottle of 0,5 l.
A packet of 20 of cigarettes costs almost 5 dollars starting in August 2020.
Keep in mind that these are average prices and you'll have to pay a lot more when shopping at gourmet stores.. Imported alcoholic beverages cost about as much as in Western Europe.
The cost of food in the city in Bucharest
It depends, also, of the place where you eat. To give you an idea, let's take the case of fast food restaurants. A regular meal at McDonalds costs money 4,85 USD.
A meal for one person in a cheap restaurant is 8,40 USD, while the cost for a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant is about 36 of dollars.
For an outing in the city, in the lively center of the old town, a local drought beer of 0,5 liters costs 1,94 USD, while a bottle of 0,33 liters of imported beer cost 2,42 USD.
The price of a regular cappuccino is 2,37 USD.
But there are some exclusive places in Bucharest where you can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars in one night.
The cost of sports and leisure in Bucharest
Starting in August 2020, there is not much entertainment in Bucharest due to the pandemic, but in normal times the cost of a movie ticket is about 35 USD.
A gym membership is 120 lei for one adult per month, While renting a tennis court for one hour on weekends is 30 lei.
The cost of childcare in Bucharest
If you plan to bring your children to Bucharest, there are many private kindergartens to choose from. The average cost is about 2000 lei per month for a full day program, but the conditions are, in the majority of cases, to high standards and many of them have English speaking staff.
For older children, there are several private schools where teaching activities are conducted in English. The costs are from 45000 lei per year and up.
right Numbeo.com, a family of four living would need about 1.940 dollars a month to live comfortably in Bucharest, and this without taking into account the rent, childcare or car expenses. One person can handle about 550 dollars and can even afford a few nights in the city, but not too many others.
