Depending on their scope and comfort expectations, the costs of living in Bucharest may vary significantly- so it depends on who you ask. This article is for young people between 18-35, without children.
There is, first of all, the (wrong) tendency to consider the money you don’t spend you don’t need, which may be interpreted in many ways, but I think it is a general truth for living in Bucharest.
Then, you must consider that when making an average monthly budget for regular expenses (anywhere in the world), you also need to factor in some or all of these variations:
– the cost of living during the winter is higher than it is during the summer
– the rent you pay depends on the time of the year you rent the apartment. For example, rents in the fall are higher because of the high demand
– there are some expenses you make each year but not each month. For example, buying gifts, paying taxes, or attending a wedding. These must also be added to the monthly average
– the cost of transportation depends on how much you will need to make trips in the city
– do you receive in nature, or by the job, or get a significant discount on some of the things you might have to pay for (place to stay, food, transportation)
– who do you live within Bucharest? Parents, relatives, sentimental partner, cat, apartment colleagues, house pet?
– will you have a social or cultural life in Bucharest?
– where in Bucharest is it acceptable for you to stay?
– will you be available to shop in different places for different things and at various hours during the day?
– will you cook, will you eat at home semi-prepared food or will you
– is your health insured? Do you have any particular sensitivities that you need to be taken care of? For example, do you practice any sport?
– what is your budget for initially moving to Bucharest?
Please consider that this is just for living – basic things. You will need more, depending on what you’re planning to do. Based on these criteria, for some people, 300 euros/month might be too much; for others, 500 euros/month might be too little. And you know what? They would all be right.
I will first present the grossing figures in this article and follow up on it next week.
For reality reasons, I have excluded living in a student dorm, as I generally consider that a hazardous or desperate option. Though, if you live in a student dorm, this alone will decrease your general expenses by at least 110-150 euros/per month.
So, to sum it up, as an average considering also the yearly.
Basic surviving: total 260–670 €/m.
Accommodation/rent: 50-250 €/m.
Maintenance and upkeeping 50-70 €/m (as an average between summer and winter)
Food: 100-200 €/m.
Other accommodation expenses (internet, electricity, TV cable, garbage): 40-80 €/m.
Health: 40-50 €/m. (if you are basically healthy)
Clothing and shoes: 10-20 €/m. (if you need it)
Administrative necessities: total 80-110 €/m.
Urban transportation: 30-35 €/m (100 €/m if you use a car)
Mobile phone: 20-25 €/m.
Consumables: 30-40 €/m.
Taxes, fees, and commissions: 10-20 €/m.
Other (leisure expenses): total 50-80 €/m.
Reading: 5-10 €/m.
Film: 5-10 €/m.
Theater: 5-10 €/m.
Business networking events: 10-15 €/m.
Going out: 10-15 €/m.
Gifts: 5-10 €/m.
Other extraordinary expenses: 10 €/m.
So, as an answer to the title, the least amount you could reasonably live in Bucharest would be 400 euros a month. The maximum reasonable amount would be 860 euros a month.
How did I get to these figures?
Keep an eye on Analytic Vision to read further!
Copyright © Marcus Victor Grant, 2014-present
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