View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
Mike_2007
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: Living Costs - Bucharest |
|
|
As I get PMed for this kind of info from time to time I thought it might be a good idea to put it up on the forum for people's future reference. The prices are in Euro and are what I consider typical for the city (prices can vary a lot here, so it's all very 'ballpark'). These are for Feb 2008.
RENT
The three prices here represent three different areas of the city. The first is a low-class area where most expats wouldn't want to live, the middle one is typical semi-central, and the third upmarket.
Studio 250 - 400 - 550
One-bedroom apt. 350 - 500 - 700
Two-bedroom apt. 500 - 600 - 1000
BILLS
For a typical flat you'll have some or all of the following bills. These are based on my own experiences (one/two people both out to work during the day). Monthly unless stated.
Block expenses: 30-50 Euro
Heating: up to 40 Euro in winter
Electricity: 10-15 Euro
Phone: 10 Euro + call costs
Cable TV: 20 Euro (full packet)
Cable net (100Mbps): 15 Euro
Lots of providers have a 3-in-1 deal now: phone, net, cable TV. I think these come in at about 10-30 Euro per month plus calls, depending on TV package and net speed.
TRANSPORT
Local cab: 0.50 Euro/km
Bus/Tram/Trolleybus ticket (one journey): 0.30 Euro
Metro ticket (10 trips): 2.20 Euro
Bus/Tram/Trolley monthly travel card: 14 Euro
Bus/Tram/Trolley/Metro monthly travel card: 22 Euro
500 km Inter-city train trip: 1st class: 35 Euro, 2nd class: 25 Euro
Rental Car: 20-40 Euro a day
ENTERTAINMENT
Coffee in a cafe: 3-4 Euro
Beer from supermarket: 1 Euro
Beer in normal bar: 2 Euro
Beer in posh club: 3-5 Euro
Pizza: 5 Euro
McD meal (burger, coke, chips): 5 Euro
Lunch for one (plate of food, soft drink): 10 Euro
Meal for two in average restaurant with drinks: 50 Euro
Cinema ticket: 3-6 Euro
Cigarettes: 2 Euro
Generally, the food in the supermarkets is around the same as in the rest of the EU zone. Local markets are a little cheaper for fresh goods, but not considerably so. Most things you'd want can be found in Bucharest. There are lots of big supermarkets (Gima, Cora, Metro, Carrefour) on the outskirts normally and many smaller ones all over the city.
Hope this proves to be of some help.
Cheers,
Mike |
|
Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
ON average, how much would you say you spend in a month? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike_2007
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I guess I spend about 350 Euro per month. That's for the bills, transport and food. I'm not including nights out or clothes. Also I'm not including rent as I have my own place here now. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That's good. YOu bought a place? Congrats. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike_2007
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks. Yes, in Nov 2006. It's only a two-room apartment but it's mine and I'm not stuck with a huge mortgage like I would be if I'd bought something back home. It's already gone up about 40'000 Euro in value...that's Romania for you. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow, that's great. We just bought ours last year. It's 80m2 and cost 25K, but we're completely gutting it and fixing it up and hoping to sell it for 40K. Do you need residence to buy places there? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mike_2007
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 349 Location: Bucharest, Romania
|
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If you buy a flat you don't need residence, but if you want to buy a place with land then you need to have a company and buy it in the company name. This rule, as far as I know, still also applies to EU citizens, although it will be phased out in a few years. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bebsi
Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958
|
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What Mike says about land ownership is basically correct. Foreigners can own buildings here, but not the land on which they are built. It is a senseles rule of course, a throwback to communism, but it's reality and what we have to work with.
In practice, the effect is that if you buy an apartment, you've nothing to worry about. However, if you wish to buy a house, you can own the house but not the land. Doesn't make much sense, does it, to own the house while someone else owns the land?
There is an easy solution, however, which is widely practised.
You incorporate a Romanian-registered company, which can be wholly owned by one person who may be a foreigner (i.e. yourself) and only needs a nominal share capital of 200 RON (around 54 euro) to be lodged in the bank. This company will be a Romanian person in the legal sense. You then buy the land and all buildings upon it in the company's name, and thus get around the problem very easily.
Anyone interested in doing this, PM me for more info. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|