How Much Money Do You Need as an International Student in Romania?

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

Despite this, though, Romanian remains an affordable option for international students – at least when compared to other Western countries, but also offering solid education opportunities.

Today, you will learn the average living costs for students in Romania. I’ve broken down REAL budgets, also based on what other students are spending, and flagged potential headaches nobody tells you about.

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

I have already shared a more generic cost of living in Romania where the conclusion was that you need at least €1,250 per month. But students have more benefits and lower costs overall, so they will need less to live a decent life in Romania.

Living Cost in Romania for International Students: Budget Breakdown

Breaking down the budget into categories, here is how much I believe a student needs each month for a decent life in the country, in one of the major University cities here, like Bucharest, Cluj Napoca or Timisoara:

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 €100 to €150/month per person (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).

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).

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 base 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 stores like Lidl.

With all these in mind, I recommend budgeting around €200/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 to 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 the other cities.

On average, expect to pay around 20 Euros per month for unlimited rides on all bus lines, including the metro in Bucharest only. If you take the train to visit other cities, you will also get discounted prices: learn more about riding trains in Romania.

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 like 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 sky is the limit here, I’m taking a limited budget into consideration and sharing my thoughts below:

• Night out (pub): €15 minimum (3 beers or sodas, no entry fee).
• Night out (club): €30+ (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 passers by just to lure them in. It’s not the thing that will make you proud, but when money is tight, you can do it too.

All in all, if you have around 80 Euros per month put aside for entertainment, you can have some wild fun, without going too crazy. It all depends on your style – 80 Euros can easily be spent in one night, so always keep your budget in mind!

5. Other costs

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 (€2), 16-pack toilet paper (€4), condoms (€1.5/pack).
• Clothes: If you do your shopping in the cheap stores, you can find t-shirts for as low as €5 a piece. For brand stuff, expect Western European prices, though

Shops to know: Pepco, TEDI, Jumbo for all things cheap; DM for personal care products. Also look for Chinese shops, where you will find all sorts of things for really low prices.

Most likely, a budget of around 50 Euros per month will cover all these extras, unless you 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.

Rounding up the monthly budget for international students

Overall, as an international student in Romania, expect to pay around €400 per month for a very basic lifestyle, or around €650-€700 for a decent student’s life.

This would give you a lot more options when it comes to living in a nice shared place, you will eat better food, afford some quality entertainment, new clothes every now and then (non-brand ones though) and a decent 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?

Yes, you can work in Romania if you are an international student with a valid visa (or coming 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, expect to earn around 400 Euros/month (unless you are lucky to find something even better paid), which would help a lot with your monthly expenses.

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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!