📌 Grocery Prices and Cost of Living in Romania. A Realistic Spending Guide for Students.

One of the most frequently asked questions by students planning to study in Romania concerns grocery prices and the cost of daily living. While Romania isn't among the most expensive countries in Europe, prices can vary from city to city. This guide details the average grocery shopping, food expenses, and monthly living costs for a student in Romania.

1️⃣ Supermarkets in Romania - Which Stores are Cheap?

The most popular chain supermarkets in Romania are as follows.

• Lidl

• Kaufland

• Carrefour

• Mega Image

• Profi

Lidl and Kaufland are generally the most affordable chains.

2️⃣ Basic Food Prices

The average prices of basic daily consumed goods in Romania are as follows.

🥖 Bread

• 0.80 to 1.20 euros

🥚 Eggs

• 10-pack 1.80 to 2.40 euros

🥛 Milk

• 1 liter costs 1.10 euros.

🍗 Chicken Breast

• 4.00 to 5.50 euros

🍝 Pasta

• 0.70 to 1.10 euros

🥩 Red Meat

• 8.50 to 12 euros (Note: Meat prices vary greatly from city to city)

🍚 Rice

• 1 kg costs between 1.20 and 1.80 euros.

Prices are slightly higher in large cities compared to smaller cities.

3️⃣ Fruit and Vegetable Prices

In Romania, vegetable and fruit prices depend on the season. Lidl and Kaufland offer the most affordable options.

🍅 Tomatoes

• 1.50 to 2.50 euros

🥒 Cucumber

• Around 1.00 euros

🍎 Apple

• 1.20 to 1.80 euros

🍌 Banana

• 1.40 euro

🥔 Potatoes

• 0.80 euro

Generally, fruits and vegetables are cheaper here than in Türkiye.

4️⃣ Ready-to-Use Products and Student-Friendly Shopping

The most popular products among students.

• Instant soups

• Frozen pizza

• Ready-made sauces

• Tuna

• Student menu meat and chicken packages

These products range from 1 to 4 euros on average, keeping your budget balanced.

5️⃣ Cleaning and Personal Care Products

Cleaning product prices are close to the European average.

Example prices.

• Dishwashing detergent costs 1.80 euros.

• Laundry detergent costs between 4 and 8 euros.

• Shampoo costs between 2.50 and 5 euros.

• Shower gel 1.50 euros

Cleaning and maintenance costs significantly impact grocery spending.

6️⃣ How much does a student spend on groceries per month in Romania?

The average student's spending, according to market conditions, is as follows.

• Minimum economic level. 120 to 150 euros.

• Mid-range. 160 to 200 euros.

• Comfort level. 220 to 260 euros.

Eating out can increase these numbers.

7️⃣ Prices for Eating Out

Food prices in Romania are higher than in Türkiye, but below the European average.

Average prices.

• Fast food. 5 to 7 euros.

• Student menu. 6 to 8 euros.

• Restaurant main course. 10 to 16 euros.

The best option for affordable places to eat is the cafes around the university.

8️⃣ Cost of Living by City

Here is a ranking of the average cost of living for the cities in Romania where the most students reside.

The most expensive cities.

• Cluj-Napoca

• Bucharest

• Timișoara

Intermediate level.

• Sibiu

• Braşov

• Iași

The most suitable ones.

• Oradea

• Galați

• Suceava

Cluj is generally the most expensive student city.

9️⃣ The Most Common Mistakes

🚫 Constantly choosing restaurants instead of supermarkets 🚫 Not knowing about student discounts 🚫 Opting for unnecessarily expensive brands 🚫 Confusing accommodation and grocery budgets 🚫 Not making a monthly budget plan

These mistakes could double the student's expenses.

🎯 In short

Grocery prices and the cost of living in Romania are affordable for students. It's possible to save money at the end of the month with the right grocery choices. Lidl and Kaufland are ideal for economical shopping. While monthly grocery budgets vary from city to city, they can be made quite manageable with regular planning.