Europe · Bucharest
Cost of living in Romania
Romania is 59% cheaper than the US, ranking #113 of 203 countries we cover for cost of living.
World Bank data through 2024 · last reviewed 2026-06.
What drives the cost here
Price levels by category, where the world average = 100. Above 100 is pricier than the global norm; below it is cheaper.
In Romania, transport is the priciest category relative to the world (103), while health is the most affordable (28).
Category price levels: World Bank ICP 2021 (world average = 100) · source
What your money is worth here
A $100,000 US lifestyle would cost roughly $41,500 in Romania.
Quality of life
88/100 · #67 of 198Beyond cost — health, safety, and connectivity. The score is a transparent, equal-weight composite of the verified metrics below (see methodology).
About Romania
The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia -- for centuries under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire -- secured their autonomy through the Treaty of Paris in 1856. They were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country joined the Allied Powers in World War I and subsequently acquired new territories -- most notably Transylvania -- that more than doubled its size.
Read the full background
In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.
Background from the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived 2026-06-03.
Frequently asked
Is Romania expensive to live in?
Romania is 59% cheaper than the US, ranking #113 of the 203 countries we track. Its most expensive category relative to the world is transport; health costs the least.
How much money do you need to live in Romania?
A lifestyle that costs $100,000 in the United States would cost roughly $41,500 in Romania, going by overall price levels. The salary translator turns your own figure into a local equivalent.
Is Romania cheaper than the United States?
Yes. Its overall price level is 41.5, against 100 for the United States.
What is the quality of life in Romania?
Romania scores 88 out of 100 on our quality-of-life index (#67 of 198), a composite of life expectancy, safety, health, and connectivity, with life expectancy around 76 years.
Every number, sourced.
We cite the exact source and year for each figure. Derived values are computed at build time, never hand-entered.
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