Prices in Romania have been climbing faster than my excitement for dessert when I see papanasi (check it, and other traditional Romanian foods here). With food being the main expense of a family, after rent, I’ve decided to sprinkle it with a bit of beer and share their prices – valid in Bucharest and the rest of the country.
Each year, I also update the article regarding the cost of living in Romania: make sure to check that out as well if you’re curious about all the expenses you might have for a long-term visit here.
But if you’re here for the shorter term, food & beer prices is probably what you care about more. So let’s get into it!
Quick Takeaways
- Food and drink prices in Romania have risen 50% or more compared to previous years.
- Eating out? Budget around €8 for a daily menu or splurge on €15 for something fancier.
- Beer? Still cheaper than water in some cases – now that’s something worth toasting to.
- I’ll break down everything from groceries to restaurant meals so you’re not caught off guard.
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Now let’s get a bit more in-depth and see actual prices that are up-to-date!
Food prices in Romania in 2025
Food prices in Romania vary depending on the season. The ones listed below are for in-season products – so expect to find more expensive options during other times of the year.
Also, my estimates are based on my own experience shopping at Carrefour supermarkets, which are sometimes a bit more expensive than discount stores like Lidl or Kaufland, but not as expensive as other smaller stores, including Mega Image or Profi.
Please Note: Prices in Romania are in Lei (the national currency) but I have exchanged that in Euros (at the rate of 5.00 Lei for 1 Euro) to keep things easier to follow.
With all these in mind, let’s check out some prices!
Basic grocery prices in Romania
Chicken thighs – 1 Kilo – 7 Euros
Chicken breast, skinless – 1 kilo – 7.50 Euros
Whole Chicken – 1 kg – €3.50
Pork leg, boneless – 1 kg – €6.50
Pork meat (minced) – 1 kg – €6.00
Beef Sirloin – 1kg – €11.00
Salami, 1 bar (300 grams) – €5.50
Turkey Ham (sliced, 150 grams) – €1.80
Bacon (sliced, 150 grams) – €2.00
Sausages, 1kg – €5.50
Mackerel (600g, frozen) – €6.50
Salmon (150g, smoked) – €4.75
Tuna (canned) – €2.20
Carp (fresh) – €4.50
Milk, low fat, 1 liter – 1 Euro
Cottage cheese, 1 can (180 grams) – €0.95
Butter, 1 bar (200 grams) – €2.00
White Cheese, 1 kilo – €7.50
Cheddar 1 kilo – €7.90
Eggs, 10-pack – €2.50
Sunflower oil (1 liter): 1.80 Euros
Olive oil (1 liter): €13.00 (Extra virgin)
White Vinegar (1 liter): €0.70
Bread, 1 loaf – 1.00 Euros
Bread, sliced, 500 grams – 1.5 Euros
Corn Flakes, Plain, 500 grams bag – €1.25
Nestle Chocolate Cornflakes (425g bag): €2.30
Muesli & Chocolate, 500 grams box – €4.50
Coffee, 1 bag of 500 grams (good coffee) – €5.75
Sugar, 1 kilo – €1.00
Brown sugar, 500 grams – €2.00
Spaghetti, 500 grams, Romanian brand – 0.90 Euros
White rice, 1 kilo – 1.25 Euros
White beans (dried), 1kg – €2.20
Can of beans – €1.00
Can of sweet corn – €1.00
White flour (1kg bag) – €0.90
Tomatoes, 1 kilo – €1.50 – €10 (depending on the season)
Potatoes, 1 kilo – €0.80
Lettuce (1 head): €0.75 – €1
Mushrooms, 1 kilo – €3.50
Onions, 1 kilo – €1.00
Apples, 1 kilo – €1.00
Oranges, 1 kilo – €1.20
Bananas, 1 kilo – €1.25
Avocado (1 piece) – €1.00
For those with specific dietary needs, Romania has come a long way in recent years. Vegan and gluten-free products are more or less available in supermarkets, but are expensive by Romanian standards: a liter of almond milk is around €3.00, while gluten-free bread starts at €3 per loaf.
Price of Beer in Romania (and other drinks)
Keep in mind that the prices below are for supermarkets, not bar or restaurant prices! (We’ll talk about those as well below).
Beer, 1 bottle, 2 liter – 3.00 Euros
Local beer (500ml can, cheap) – 0.90 Euros
Heineken beer, six-pack – €6.00
Craft beer (330ml bottle) – €2.50 and above
Cheap Romanian Wine, 750ml bottle – 3.50 Euros
Better Romanian Wine, 750ml bottle – 8.00 Euros and above
1 bottle of Coca Cola, 2 liter – €2.30
1 jug of water, 5 liter – €1.50
Bottle of natural juice (1 liter): €2.20
As far as supermarket prices go, you can find a good Romanian beer at around 1 Euro per bottle/can, but it can be as cheap as €3.00 for a 2-liter bottle. A Romanian beer in a Restaurant starts at around €2.15 per bottle. (More on this below)
Restaurant food & drinks costs in Romania
Prices in restaurants vary a lot and the sky’s the limit. However, here are some of the average prices you can expect if you don’t visit the fanciest places around, but not the cheapest, self-service type of restaurants either.
We’re talking about places where you would feel good, eat well, and not overpay. Keep in mind that these costs have risen A LOT since 2022, and they don’t seem to be ready to stop in 2025 either.
Breakfast (scrambled eggs and coffee) – 4.00 Euros
Daily menu (Soup, Main course, and dessert, sometimes drink included) – €8.00
Full Lunch, lower priced restaurant (soup, main course, dessert and one beer) – €15.00
Full Lunch, more expensive restaurant – €25.00
Dinner – between €12.00 – €25.00
Coffee / Cappuccino – €3.00 Euros
Soda – €2.20
Bottle of beer (500ml) – Starting at 2.15 Euros
Bottle of wine – Starting at 20 Euros
A glass of wine – Starting at 4 Euros
For something stronger, try țuică or palincă – traditional Romanian plum brandy. Prices vary depending on where you buy them: a 500ml bottle at a supermarket costs around €6, but homemade varieties from local markets might be cheaper and far more authentic.
Now let’s check out some fast food prices and bakery food costs!
Hamburger – 3.00 Euros
Shaorma (this beast here) – 4.50 Euros
Big Mac – 2.90 Euros
Happy Meal – 3.00 Euros
One Pizza (Quatro Stagioni) – €6.00
Pretzel – €0.30
Merdenea (cheese pastry) – €0.90
Apple Strudel – €0.90
Check out my list of the best restaurants in Constanta, or the best ones in Sinaia to get a clearer idea of what to expect when eating at more touristy places here (and prepare to spend A LOT more).
If you want to get a bit more in-depth, check out my articles about the best coffee in Constanta, the best pizza in the city, or take a look at the best restaurants in Bucharest.
The Romanian culture is generally aimed at optimizing costs, so if you choose to live like a Romanian, you can do so on the cheap.
Usually, bread, pastries, vegetables, and local fruits are way cheaper than in most parts of Europe based on my research and personal experience.
Cold cuts, all sorts of meats, including fish and seafood are similarly priced and sometimes more expensive than other parts of Europe. And, of course, beer is always cheap and tasty!
Food prices in restaurants and fast food joints are also lower compared to most of Europe as you can see above, but it’s not a rule that you will pay less.
And the more time you spend here, the better you will get at keeping the costs low.
Why the Spike in Prices?
Let’s address the elephant in the room: inflation. Romania’s inflation rate hit double digits during 2022–2023, and while 2024 showed a bit of mercy, prices are still higher than what they used to be and still going up.
But don’t panic. Romania is still one of the most affordable European countries -just not as outrageously cheap as it once was. With a bit of planning (and this guide), you can still eat and drink like royalty on a modest budget.
Even more, as you learn about your shop and the discounts they offer (usually through their dedicated mobile apps), you can plan a little bit and save more money when grocery shopping here.
In stores like Lidl or Kaufland, for example, you will find some of the cheapest products in Romania but without losing much (if anything) in terms of quality.
Now, if you’re planning to travel for a short time here, make sure to also check out my previous guide on how much to budget for a trip to Romania. It will sure help you, especially if the money is tight.
Check out my video sharing a grocery shopping trip in Romania!
If you prefer watching YouTube videos, we did a quick shopping haul video to show you what you can buy for 50 Euros in Romania. (Please keep in mind that the video was shot in 2020 and most things are more expensive now – I will update it as soon as possible.)
If you have any questions or want to know the price of specific items, leave a comment below.
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I made a mistake and clicked on your Shaorma (this beast here) link and I have SUCH a craving. That thing looks AWESOME! Almost worth buying an airline ticket to get one. $4 bucks.. I am ALL over it.
Haha, I know what you say! Fortunately, there’s at least decent Shaorma everywhere in Romania… but in Bucharest I’ve actually seen some that really push things to the next level. Yum indeed!
Hello,
it´s possible to by wine and beer in the supermarket anytime ? Or after 8:00 , 10:00 Pm, its not possible?
As long as the shop is open, you can buy anything it has on sale, at any hour of the day (or night). There are special occasions when you are not allowed to buy (such as election days – but these are very rare).
Wow! The prices have definitely increased a lot. Our price for extra virgin olive oil is now €5.90 but more or less, the prices are the same as here. Insane!
When we went to the supermarket after the new year started, I was simply shocked. Everything seemed even more expensive. So probably we haven’t seen the worst yet.