Cost of living comparison
Romania is 42.0% cheaper than Illinois.
- Restaurants
-
pay 34.9% less in Romania
- Groceries
-
pay 37.4% less in Romania
- Transportation
-
pay 22.5% less in Romania
- Housing
-
pay 64.8% less in Romania
- Childcare
-
pay 72.6% less in Romania
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 50.0% less in Romania
- Clothing
-
pay 12.0% less in Romania
Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, restaurants, and transportation are lower in Romania.
If you lived in Romania instead of Illinois, you would:
pay 34.9% less for restaurants
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.03
|
$8.56
RON37.47
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.33
|
$6.33
RON27.70
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.49
|
$1.72
RON7.51
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.85
|
$1.43
RON6.25
|
|
pay 37.4% less for groceries
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.19
|
$1.08
RON4.71
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.63
|
$3.79
RON16.59
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.30
|
$5.46
RON23.89
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.92
|
$2.83
RON12.38
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.08
|
$2.70
RON11.82
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.10
|
$0.47
RON2.07
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
|
$0.66
RON2.87
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.05
|
$0.65
RON2.83
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
|
$0.85
RON3.72
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.98
|
$0.38
RON1.65
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.20
|
$0.41
RON1.79
|
|
pay 22.5% less for transportation
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$5.64
RON24.71
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$72.95
|
$20.73
RON90.75
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$28,096.73
|
$25,159.13
RON110,139.13
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.96
|
$6.39
RON28.00
|
|
pay 64.8% less for housing
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.96
|
$8.45
RON36.98
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,375.37
|
$363.94
RON1,593.22
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,146.99
|
$266.85
RON1,168.20
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$137.37
|
$107.36
RON470.01
|
|
pay 72.6% less for childcare
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,394.11
|
$405.62
RON1,775.67
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,405.00
|
$6,284.14
RON27,510.07
|
|
pay 50.0% less for entertainment and sports
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.17
|
$2.01
RON8.82
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.81
|
$2.20
RON9.64
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.79
|
$5.30
RON23.20
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$60.87
|
$37.40
RON163.73
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.50
|
$6.19
RON27.09
|
|
pay 12.0% less for clothing
Illinois
|
Romania
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$51.50
|
$57.67
RON252.46
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.59
|
$34.90
RON152.78
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$80.60
|
$69.76
RON305.37
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$115.89
|
$80.53
RON352.54
|
|
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