How much do you need to earn to live here, after Romania takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Romania's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Bucharest is roughly lei6,341/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think lei7,744/month gross (lei4,531 net after ~42% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | lei1,790 Cheapest neighborhood (Residential District) | lei2,370 Median neighborhood | lei2,835 Premium neighborhood (City Centre) |
| Groceries | lei720 | lei864 | lei1,080 |
| Transport | lei210 | lei210 | lei210 |
| Utilities | lei510 | lei510 | lei510 |
| Dining & Entertainment | lei480 | lei576 | lei720 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | lei3,710 | lei4,530 | lei5,355 |
lei6,341/month gross
lei7,744/month gross
lei9,153/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 3 neighborhoods in Bucharest.
Residential District
22 min by transit
lei1,790 - lei2,230
University Quarter
15 min by transit
lei2,110 - lei2,630
City Centre
8 min by walk
lei2,530 - lei3,140
City Centre
8 min by walk
lei2,530 - lei3,140
University Quarter
15 min by transit
lei2,110 - lei2,630
Residential District
22 min by transit
lei1,790 - lei2,230
All 3 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Romania's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least lei6,341/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Bucharest. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for lei7,744/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Romania.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 3 neighborhoods in Bucharest is approximately lei2,405/month. Rents range from lei1,790 in Residential District to lei3,140 in City Centre.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Bucharest cost approximately lei720. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Romania are progressive. At the budget salary level of lei6,341/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 42%. At the comfortable level of lei7,744/month, it rises to approximately 42%. This includes income tax and social contributions.