The Real Cost of Studying in Romania: an International Student’s Monthly Budget

Romania has seen prices going up in these past few years, and as a result, students will unfortunately have to spend more than ever if they want to study here.

Actually, the general truth is that when you study abroad, the financial reality of your new home rarely matches the glossy university brochures.

Despite this, Romania remains an affordable option for international students when compared to other Western countries, while also offering solid educational opportunities and lively cities to be in.

Today, I will help you better prepare for your move and estimate how much money you will need each month. I have broken down REAL budgets based on what other students are spending, and I flagged potential headaches nobody tells you about.

I want this to be the only guide you will ever need to understand the real costs of student life in Romania, helping you make your time here more than just a string of ramen-fueled nights.

I have already shared a more general cost of living in Romania article, where the conclusion is that a family of three can live decently on around €1,800 a month. But students have more benefits and lower costs overall, so they will need less to live a decent life in Romania.

The 2026 TL;DR Average Monthly Budget

Since you might not want to go through the entire article and read all the details (although you should, as you could find some useful golden nuggets there), here is a summary of the average cost of living for students in a major university city like Bucharest, Cluj Napoca or Timisoara.

Expense Category	Estimated Monthly Cost
Rent (Shared Apartment)	€150 – €350
Utilities & Internet	€40 – €100
Food & Groceries	€250 – €300
Public Transport (Monthly Pass)	€7 – €15
Entertainment	€100+
Extras & Personal Care	€60
Total Average Baseline	€607 – €925

Note: You might need health insurance, too, depending on your country of origin, which will cost at least €15 more each month.

Living Cost in Romania for International Students: Budget Breakdown

The real budget can vary wildly based on your lifestyle. Usually, there are two types of international students in Romania and their costs will be different:

The Frugal Student: You live in a shared apartment with two-three other people. You cook almost all your meals from scratch at home using basic ingredients from discount supermarkets. You take full advantage of free student transport, and your weekends consist of house parties or free local events.

In your case, living a decent life is possible on as low as ~€600 each month.

The Comfort Student: You rent a private studio close to the university, you eat out a few times a week and maybe buy some coffees now and then. You hit the clubs in the city center on weekends, travel with Ubers and want to “enjoy life” a bit more.

For this lifestyle, expect to spend at least €925 each month – usually a lot more, as entertainment and eating out costs can quickly spiral out of control.

Now let’s go even further and break down the budgets into categories!

1. Rent

Rent will be your single largest expense, unless you manage to score a really cheap room in the Student campus (dorm), called “Camin studentesc” in Romanian.

Here’s what you should expect to pay this year, based on the type of accommodation you choose:

• Dorm room (shared): €75/month (the competition is fierce for these, so very unlikely to get one)
• Shared apartment: Between €150 and €300/month per person, depending how many people share it (sometimes, two-bedroom apartments are shared by up to six students to keep costs low, in which case you will spend even less).
• Studio apartment: €350/month and up, if you want your own place.

Keep in mind that maintenance and utilities (water, gas, internet, mobile plan) are generally NOT included in the rental costs, and these will add anything between €40-€100/month, depending on you lifestyle.

You will also be expected to pay a deposit, usually 1-2 months’ rent, which you will get back at the end of your lease.

Make sure to check out my recommended websites for rentals in Romania, and try to get a place as close to your university as possible in order to reduce transportation costs (and keep things comfortable).

2. Food expenses

Food is where budgets can crash and burn if you’re not careful. If you eat out all the time, you will spend a ton – even if you choose the cheapest options available.

If you manage to cook at home mostly, ideally from basic ingredients, you will spend a lot less. At the very least, you should take advantage of student cafes and daily menu offers in your area and shop at cheap supermarkets like Lidl.

With all this in mind, I recommend budgeting at least €250/month for food, which will allow you to eat a healthy, varied diet, including fruits and vegetables, so not “Ramen each day.”

The good thing, if you decide to share an apartment with other Romanian students, is that they will receive a lot of delicious food from their parents – and it’s customary to share.

3. Transportation costs

If you’re not within walking distance of the University, you will have to go for some of the public transport options available: metro (in Bucharest) or bus/tram lines in Bucharest and other cities.

On average, expect to pay between 7-15 Euros per month for unlimited bus rides, depending on the city. Some even offer free transportation for students.

If you take the train to visit other cities, you will also get discounted prices: learn more about riding trains in Romania.

Read my guide to Bucharest’s public transport here to know what to expect otherwise (tldr: it’s a solid option, especially if the metro).

4. Entertainment costs

I would say that the three categories listed above are covering the basics and in theory you could make it work by only spending money in those three.

However, you will have other costs and since you’re an international student in a foreign country, you will want to party as the locals do, and also enjoy the different events, from the top music festivals in Romania (like Untold, Neversea, or Beach Please) to local plays and concerts.

Fortunately, there are lots of free events for students, as well as many places where you can spend quality time for free, and fellow students will know about them.

But you will still most likely wish to go out for a drink, maybe spend a night or more clubbing, go to the cinema, and so on. And while the sky is the limit here, I’m considering a limited budget and sharing my thoughts below:

• Night out (pub): €10 minimum (3 beers or sodas, no entry fee).
• Night out (club): €20+ (fewer drinks, entry fee possible although girls usually enjoy free entry everywhere).
• Coffee shop (Latte): At least €3.
• Cinema: Around €8 per ticket.

My experience: Back when I was a student in Bucharest, I always took advantage of the old town area where bars handed out free shots to passersby just to lure them in. You can take the drink and move on – they can’t force you to come in.

It’s not the thing that will make you proud, but when money is tight, you can do that too, and I am sure there are plenty of other opportunities.

All in all, I recommend budgeting at least around 100 Euros per month for entertainment (which includes eating out). With this amount, you can have some wild fun without going too crazy.

Keep in mind that it all depends on your style, as you can easily spend 100 Euros (or more) in a single night out!

5. Personal Care, Toiletries, and Extracurricular Expenses

You will also need clothes, toiletries, health-related products, and ideally put some money aside for emergencies. Here are some examples of prices looking at the cheaper options available:

• Basic toiletries: Shower gel/Shampoo (€2 each), 16-pack toilet paper (€4), condoms (€1.75/pack), toothpaste (€2), deodorant (€3).
• Clothes: If you do your shopping in the cheaper stores, you can find T-shirts for as low as €5 a piece and pants for as low as €10 a pair. For brand stuff, expect Western European prices, though.

Shops to know: Pepco, TEDI, Jumbo, Action for all things cheap; DM for personal care products. LG Waikiki, Primark, Sinsay, C&A, and thrift stores for clothes. Also look for Chinese shops, where you can find all sorts of things for really low prices.

A budget starting from 60 Euros per month is mandatory in this category, unless you have very specific needs (e.g. expensive products).

6. Health Insurance and Medical Costs

International students are required to have health insurance, either through the university or private providers. You won’t pay a lot here, and if you are an EU citizen, you will basically get free healthcare. Here’s what to expect:

• EU students: May use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but check what’s covered, as it’s usually just the basics.
• Non-EU students: Must get Romanian student insurance. Expect to pay €15–€30/month for basic coverage.
• Doctor visits: Usually free (or very cheap) at University clinics. Private clinics charge around €50 per visit.

IMPORTANT: Always double-check if your university covers you automatically or if you need to arrange this yourself.

7. The Hidden Costs: Visas, Permits, and Study Materials

This is an area that catches many people off guard because it never shows up in standard budget calculators, because they are usually one-time costs. But you still have to pay for them!

Non-EU students have to pay for visa applications, residence permit renewals, and potentially official document translations. These fees add up over the course of a year.

You also need to factor in university supplies, textbook copies, lab materials, and various other costs associated with your education – some might have to pay more, some less, some nothing.

But setting aside an extra €100 at the beginning of each semester just to cover the paperwork and everything else is a good idea.

Rounding up the monthly budget for international students

Overall, as an international student in Romania, expect to pay around €600 per month for a basic lifestyle, or around €925 for a decent student’s life.

This larger budget gives you a lot more options when it comes to living in a nice shared place. You will eat better food, afford some quality entertainment, buy new clothes every now and then, and have a comfortable life overall.

IMPORTANT! The budget above does not include any University fees, as they vary a lot from free to 10,000 Euros/year. Make sure you have these in mind too when deciding total costs.

Remember: Most Romanian students will probably live on around 500 Euros/month, maybe even less, but they have at least some of the food costs covered by their parents.

Keep in mind that students also get access to lots of free stuff, free events and they have major discounts basically everywhere.

Girls usually get more freebies when it comes to entertainment (usually free entry in clubs and even free drinks), but everything’s evened out pretty much everywhere else.

Can international students get a job in Romania?

If you want to supplement your budget, you can work in Romania if you are an international student here and you have a valid visa (or you’re from another EU country).

But you are only allowed to work part-time jobs and most likely you won’t find anything that’s well paid – think stuff like the HoReCa industry or anything that doesn’t require a lot of skill/experience.

But if you get a part-time job, the base payment can be as low as ~€250/month. But even this amount can help with your monthly expenses.

If you have additional comments or questions, don’t hesitate to let me know and I will gladly answer.

Also, if you are a student in Romania and already know your expenses, it would help a lot if you would share them with the world!