Cost of Living in Romania
Eurostat puts Romanian consumer prices at 58.9 in 2025, where the EU average is 100, so about 41.1% below average. Housing and energy are the cheapest category, at 53.5. Rents, though, were 39.46% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier.
What does it cost to live in Romania? This page uses official figures only: consumer prices and household spending from INS, the National Institute of Statistics, the policy rate from the National Bank of Romania, and price levels, rent inflation, house prices, housing cost burden and electricity prices from Eurostat. Where no official national figure exists, such as an average rent in lei, we say so and leave it out.
Rent and housing costs in Romania, 2024 to 2026
Price levels in Romania against the EU average, 2023 to 2025
Rent in Romania
INS, the National Institute of Statistics, does not publish a national average rent in lei. It measures rents as a price index inside the consumer price index. On that index, rents paid by tenants in September 2026 were 39.46% higher than a year earlier, and 37.31% higher than in December 2025. The EU harmonised measure shows the same jump: 39.5% in Romania, against 2.9% in the EU. Buying is getting dearer too: Eurostat puts house prices in the second quarter of 2026 12.1% above a year earlier, with new homes up 12.8% and existing homes up 11.8%.
Housing is still cheap by EU standards. Eurostat puts the Romanian price level for housing, water, electricity and gas at 53.5 in 2025, where the EU average is 100, the lowest of the main categories. The share of people whose housing costs exceed 40% of disposable income was 5.0% in 2025, against 7.6% in the EU. Among people below the poverty threshold it was 16.9%, against 29.0% in the EU.
Consumer prices and inflation
Consumer prices were 6.6% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to INS, and 0.77% higher than in August. Services rose 11.12%, non-food goods 7.06% and food 3.0%. Motor fuels were up 19.22% and water, sewerage and waste collection 14.11%, while electricity rose 1.35%. Over the 12 months to September, prices averaged 9.2% above the previous 12 months. The National Bank of Romania kept its policy rate at 6.5% on 8 October 2026.
Eurostat puts the Romanian price level for household consumption at 58.9 in 2025, where the EU average is 100. That means prices about 41.1% below the EU average, though the gap has narrowed from 55.9 in 2023. Food is at 79.8, transport at 79.8 and clothing and footwear at 90.3. Restaurants and hotels, at 59.4, are among the cheapest categories.
What households spend
Romanian households spent an average of RON 8,650.47 a month in the second quarter of 2026, according to the INS household budget survey, or RON 3,579 per person. That was 84.8% of total income of RON 10,203.53 per household. Spending per household rose 7.6% on a year earlier. The total includes taxes and social contributions, which took 36.5%. Consumption took 57.0%, and food and drinks were 31.6% of cash consumption. Urban households spent more: RON 9,437 a month, or RON 4,241 per person.
| Household budget survey, Q2 2026 | Per household a month | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | RON 10,203.53 | +7.4% on Q2 2025 |
| Total spending | RON 8,650.47 | 84.8% of income |
| Consumption, including own produce | RON 4,936 | 57.0% of spending |
| Taxes and social contributions | RON 3,158.98 | 36.5% of spending |
| Cash spending on food and drinks | RON 1,464.70 | 31.6% of cash consumption |
| Cash spending on other goods | RON 1,825.46 | |
| Cash spending on services | RON 1,338.59 | |
| Total spending per person | RON 3,579 | +10.6% on Q2 2025 |
Energy and transport
Households using 2,500 to 4,999 kWh a year paid about RON 1.46 per kWh for electricity in the first half of 2026, all taxes included, according to Eurostat. That is 51.9% more than the RON 0.96 of the first half of 2025, after the price cap scheme ended in July 2025, and in euros it is now about level with the EU average. Romania has no national flat-rate transport pass, and city fares are set locally. Urban transport prices rose 2.46% in a year to September 2026. Local property taxes are also set by each municipality, so we show no national figure.
What it means for pay and hiring
The average net wage was RON 5,688 a month in August 2026, according to INS, or RON 9,497 gross, about 1.6 times household spending per person. The minimum wage is RON 4,325 gross a month from 1 July 2026, about 1.2 times that spending. See Romania minimum wage and Romania public holidays 2027. Hiring tech staff? Read how to hire developers in Romania.
Employers pay only 2.25% in work insurance contribution (CAM) on top of gross pay in 2026, as our guide to hiring in Romania explains. Hiring in Romania? We do placement. We source, screen and interview remote professionals across Europe, then deliver a shortlist of 3 candidates within 21 days for a flat $6,500, or your deposit back. Prefer to run the search yourself? Post a job for $299. See how placement works or browse remote jobs in Romania.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and collective agreements can set different terms. Confirm with a local accountant or lawyer before you hire.
Frequently asked questions
Is Romania expensive compared with the rest of the EU?
No. Eurostat puts the Romanian price level for household consumption at 58.9 in 2025, where the EU average is 100, so prices are about 41.1% lower. Housing and energy are the cheapest category, at 53.5, and restaurants and hotels are at 59.4.
What is the average rent in Romania?
INS does not publish a national average rent in lei, only a rent price index. On that index, rents were 39.46% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier. House purchase prices rose 12.1% in a year to the second quarter of 2026.
How much do households in Romania spend?
An average of RON 8,650.47 per household a month in the second quarter of 2026, or RON 3,579 per person, according to the INS household budget survey. That was 84.8% of income and includes 36.5% in taxes and contributions.
What is the inflation rate in Romania?
Consumer prices were 6.6% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, according to INS. Services rose 11.12% and food 3.0%. The National Bank of Romania kept its policy rate at 6.5% in October 2026.
How much does electricity cost in Romania?
About RON 1.46 per kWh for a typical household in the first half of 2026, all taxes included, according to Eurostat. That is 51.9% more than a year earlier, after the price cap ended in July 2025, and about level with the EU average in euros.
Sources
- Eurostat, Price level indices, prc_ppp_ind_1. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, HICP annual rates of change, prc_hicp_minr. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, House price index, prc_hpi_q. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Housing cost overburden rate, ilc_lvho07a. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Eurostat, Electricity prices for household consumers, nrg_pc_204. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INS, Press release no. 261 of 13 Oct 2026, consumer prices September 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INS, Press release no. 253 of 7 Oct 2026, household income and spending Q2 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- INS, Press release no. 262 of 13 Oct 2026, average monthly earnings August 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- BNR, National Bank of Romania, Minutes of the monetary policy meeting of 8 Oct 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
- Inspectia Muncii, HG 146 of 12 Mar 2026. Checked 5 Nov 2026.
