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Budget travelers on their way to Romania will certainly want to know if Romania is cheap or not. It probably comes as no surprise but Romania is actually one of the most affordable countries to visit. Let’s see how much money you’ll need for accommodation, transportation, and dining in Romania.
The Cheapest Time to Visit Romania
The Cost of Accommodation in Romania
During the peak season, the most sought-after locations are Bucharest and the Romanian coast along the Black Sea and the Danube. In Bucharest, you can find any type of accommodation - from luxury 5-star hotels and hostels to bed and breakfasts and homestays. A-star hotels start at $150 per night or higher. Strictly speaking, Bucharest can be divided into several districts that are home to distinct types of hotels. For example, if you choose to stay in the Cultural District, you can expect to find the priciest hotels around. It’s a slightly different story with the Old Town and the Parliament Area which offer an array of accommodation options at more reasonable rates. Here and elsewhere, rates linger between $60 - $100 per night. Generally, the more distant from the center you are, the less expensive accommodation will be. In recent years, guest houses and apartments have become extremely popular in Romania and according to visitors’ reviews, they offer great value for money. If you really need to stretch the dollar further, you can opt for shared guesthouses for as low as $18. Of course, if you book in the peak season, you may expect the rates to go up. Outside Bucharest, there are other equally captivating cities to stay at. Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Sibiu, and Iasi are great options if you don’t want to bust your budget. In Timisoara, 4-star hotels start at around $33 a night, guesthouses in Brasov linger around $40 a night, and so on. Read more: Traveling to Europe on a Budget
The Cost of Transportation in Romania
- A two-journey ticket: 5 lei ($1.17)
- A ten-journey ticket: 20 lei ($4.66)
- A daily ticket: 8 lei ($1.87)
- A weekly ticket: 25 lei ($5.83)
Riding buses, trolleybuses and trams in Bucharest requires that you buy Activ or Multiplu card. You can load them with as many rides as you want. The credit is bought at kiosks in the streets of Bucharest. Taxis are also a great option to get around because they are fairly cheap, that is, unless you don’t allow yourself to be tricked by taxi drivers preying on assuming tourists and charging them exorbitant tariffs. If you see that the standard tariff is anything higher than $0.46, you should try and find another cab. Uber and Bolt (former Taxify) operate throughout larger Romanian cities and they are your safest bet.
The Cost of Food and Drinks in Romania
- Large dinner in an affordable eatery: $4
- A large burger: $3.5
- A Big Mac: $2.3
- Grilled meat per serving: $4.9
- A sandwich: $0.96
- A cappuccino: $2
- A bottle of beer: $1.80 - $ 2.50
- Cocktails: $4.5
Outside Bucharest, you can expect the prices to be lower and if you really have to stretch the dollar further, shop at supermarkets. The prices are crazily cheap.
Bottom Line - Is Romania Cheap?
It’s clear that Romania is one of the cheapest European countries to visit but at the same time, it’s one that has all it takes for a well-rounded vacation. And in case you decide to visit in the low season, it has quite a chance to be the cheapest vacation you’ve had in a while.
Explore more: Cheapest European Countries to Visit in Winter, Budget Travel in Western Europe, and Europe Travel category.
