Living in Constanta for two years and a bit was not only amazing but also gave me a clear picture of the cost of living in the city. And let me tell you that it’s a lot higher than I initially expected!
Sure, moving to the Black Sea coast is like a dream come true, but the financial reality of living in Constanta in 2026 will kick hard. After the major inflation spikes and general price hikes of late 2025, the budget you’ll need this year is larger.
Yes, it’s all worth it if you can afford it , but just how much does it really cost to live here?
Here’s a short summary if you don’t care about all the details, although I recommend you to read the full analysis below.
Monthly Budget Summary: Constanta 2026
The monthly cost of living in Constanta in 2026 is between €1,500 – €1,700 for a single person. As a couple, expect to pay around €2,300 – €2,800 per month in total.
The living expenses here are higher than the average monthly costs in Romania, but that makes sense as Constanta is not just one of the largest cities in the country, but also a major tourist spot and business hub, with an increasing expat population.
Now, let’s get in-depth with the costs.
Accommodation costs
Rental prices in Constanta are aggressive. Living in a city that doubles as a tourist hotspot means you are always competing with short-term rental yields.
This year, the market has tightened further due to low inventory and high demand in the port sector. Here are the prices you should expect to pay for a decent area (but not ultra-central or sea views!):
- Studio: €375 / month
- 1-bedroom apartment: €600 / month
- 2-bedroom apartment: €800 / month
Those averages are pretty good, too! There were very few options when we moved in (the Ukraine-Russia war had just started and the city saw an influx of Ukrainians looking for a new home) and we ended up paying €800 / month for a small, yet modern and beautiful 2-bedroom apartment (you can see a tour on my Patreon page here).
IMPORTANT: In Romania, people count the total rooms, not just the bedrooms. So if you see a “3-room apartment,” it is what you’d normally call a 2-bedroom.
I recommend searching for an apartment to rent during the off-season months, as that is when you will get somewhat lower prices and more options.
If you start looking for rent between May and the end of August, expect to pay more as the inventory is lower since most will prefer to rent their places short-term to tourists over the summer.
If you want to buy an apartment instead, expect to pay between €1,700 – €2,000 per square meter.
This means that a regular 2-bedroom apartment of 70 square meters can now start at around €120,000. I personally saw many priced even higher.
Read about the best areas to live in Constanta here.
If you want to get more in-depth with this, check out my article about the best websites in Romania for property listings (rent and buy).
Food costs
Expect to spend around €450 per month on food if you live alone, or closer to €750 as a couple. This assumes you do most of your cooking at home and shop at mid-range supermarkets like Carrefour or Auchan.
Store-bought food prices are similar throughout the country. We have cheaper supermarkets like Lidl, Penny or Kaufland, which can help keep the budget in check.
For a full list of food prices in Romania, check this article.
IMPORTANT: Food expenses are the most difficult to estimate. Depending on your eating habits and diet, prices can vary greatly here but anything outside of supermarkets is usually pricier than in the rest or Romania.
Entertainment costs
This is where you can truly break the bank if you’re not careful. Constanta is full of entertainment options, from pubs and clubs to various activities and events.
There are plenty of amazing restaurants here, as well as cafes and great pizza (although still expensive overall).
Budget for entertainment:
- Single person: €250/month
- Couple: €450/month
This will cover a weekly dinner out, a few coffees at your favorite café, and maybe a night out at one of the city’s pubs, but nothing too extravagant.
For the more frugal crowd, Constanta offers plenty of free or cheap entertainment: long walks along the beach, people-watching on the promenade, exploring the historic Old Town, or enjoying the free concerts and events during the summer season.
Just to put things into perspective, expect a basic meal (without drinks) to be around €12 in a restaurant, a latte or cappuccino to start at €3, a beer starts at around €3 also, while a bottle of wine will be around €20.
Of course, if you prefer to dine at a restaurant by the sea in the Tomis Marina, for example, you’ll pay a lot more: from €18 per dish.
On the other side, if you eat exclusively at home and you don’t go out much (or opt for plenty of free entertainment options), these costs can be as low as 0.
Utilities
Utility costs have seen the most drastic changes. The liberalization of energy prices in late 2025 caused electricity bills to jump significantly. Fortunately, heating bills in the winter are not as high as they are in other places, because the weather in Constanta is warmer and more pleasant overall in the winter.
Even the summer isn’t as hot, so you won’t have to run the AC unit 24/7, as you might in many other cities here.
Here’s what we spent each month, on average:
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water): €130
- Internet, mobile & TV: €17
If you drive, gas costs about €1.5 per liter. If you drive, parking is a major expense and even those spots are hard to find.
The city uses a “Zone” system. Parking in Zone 0 (Center and Mamaia) costs about €2 per hour. A resident permit is essential, but not all rentals offer one. You can get a Zone 2 yearly permit for 200 lei/year (~€40), but this doesn’t guarantee a spot – it just allows you to park in any empty Zone 2 space.
Other costs
These costs will vary again based on your spending style and habits, and I am estimating them below:
- Monthly Bus Pass: €25
- Gym membership: €30
- Doctor visit: €50 (private clinic) or Private Health Insurance starting at €70/month.
- Household items: €30
Overall, budgeting around €170 per person for costs in the “other” category is the bare minimum.
And I’m not including any new clothes or shoes in the list – costs can quickly explode if you are a constant shopper, as a cheap pair of jeans is €20 and a budget pair of shoes starts at €50.
Total monthly costs
Overall, as mentioned above, we end up with monthly living expenses of at least €1,500 per person in Constanta, or €2,300/month for couples. These are on the lower end – I don’t think you could go lower than this, while spending more is a lot easier (and probable).
You will have many Romanians tell you that they live on a lot less (and they do!), but many don’t pay rent – or they share rent, and they also receive help from relatives – food, gifts and so on.
Personal thoughts about the high cost of living in Constanta
Constanta is one of the most expensive cities in Romania, with the high cost of living being pushed up by higher-than-average rent and increased entertainment and eating-out costs.
Because of its location on the Black Sea coast, which makes it one of the most touristy places in the country, the prices in restaurants, small shops and basically everywhere else are also a bit higher.
My family experienced something similar when we ate out in Sinaia – and I am sure that’s how it is in all tourist places.
If you’re considering moving to Constanta, you might also want to check out my previous article listing the pros and cons of living here.
If you live in Constanta, I would love to hear about your monthly spending. The more people we have sharing their costs, the easier it will be for others to estimate theirs.
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.
The prices do seem higher than I would have thought even though I am not surprised. The prices are going up everywhere and I find it unsustainable, as far as housing is concerned. Sooner or later, the digital nomad movement has to peak and the speculators will get a shock. I read somewhere that almost 90% of mortgages in Portugal are adjustable ones and people are stroking out because their payments have gone through the roof. I predict pain for so many. Constanta looks lovely though so I guess it’s worth it.
Romania has adjustable mortgage rates also… and it wasn’t pleasant here either for those who had one. But let’s see what happens… I think that 2024 will be just as interesting as 2023 – if not more so.