Daily life roadmap

Arrival → SIM and cash/cards → Transport pass → Grocery routine

Student checklist — first week

  • Day 1–2: withdraw RON, SIM (Digi/Orange) or eSIM, save housing address and international office contact.
  • Day 3–5: transport pass with student card, first shop at Lidl/Kaufland, list of utility bills to pay (power/gas/internet).
  • Week 1: book IGI if non-EU (do it early), course WhatsApp group, activate university email for education software.

Weekly budget method (practical)

  1. Monthly estimate — Use the table below; divide by 4 for a weekly cap (e.g. 600 EUR/month → 150 EUR/week).
  2. Fixed costs — Pay rent and transport pass on the due date; do not spend that slice elsewhere.
  3. Food — 1–2 discount shops + market for produce; university canteen 2–3 times/week if cheap.
  4. Buffer — Keep 50–80 EUR for surprises (pharmacy, documents, phone top-up).
  5. Sunday review — 10 minutes on your statement: over cap? Adjust next week.

Indicative monthly student budget (2026)

ItemBucharestCluj / Timișoara / Iași
Rent (room)280–450 EUR200–380 EUR
Food150–220 EUR130–200 EUR
Transport15–30 EUR12–25 EUR
Phone + internet10–20 EUR10–18 EUR
Utilities (if not included)40–90 EUR35–80 EUR
Leisure / books50–100 EUR40–80 EUR
Indicative total545–910 EUR427–783 EUR

Last updated: May 2026 — orientation only; gross minimum wage is 4,050 RON (Jan–Jun 2026) / 4,325 RON (from Jul 2026) — HG 146/2026

Supermarkets and saving

  • Discount: Lidl, Kaufland, Profi, Penny.
  • Convenience: Mega Image (pricier but widespread in cities).
  • Markets: Piață agroalimentară for seasonal fruit and vegetables.
  • University canteens — Subsidised meals where available.

Student discounts

  • Urban transport — Reduced monthly pass with student ID (e.g. STB Bucharest, CTP Cluj) — ask at ticket offices.
  • Museums / culture — Reductions with student card (varies by city).
  • Software — Microsoft/Google education via university email.
  • CFR trains — Concessions for under 25 / students on some routes — check CFR Călători.

Public transport

  1. Bucharest — Metro + bus/tram (STB); Info TB / 24pay apps for digital tickets.
  2. Cluj — CTP buses; student passes at authorised sales points.
  3. Timișoara / Iași — Local bus/tram networks; check the municipal transport site.
  4. Buy a monthly pass if you commute daily (cheaper than single tickets).

Last updated: May 2026 — STB Bucharest

SIM and internet

  1. Operators: Digi (often cheap), Orange, Vodafone, Yoxo (digital).
  2. Documents: Passport + residence permit; some prepaid plans at kiosks without a long contract.
  3. eSIM — Available from main operators; useful if your phone supports it.
  4. Wi‑Fi — Home fibre approx. 8–15 EUR/month split with flatmates.

Life on your own (what parents often did at home)

Survival is not only budget and buses: it is laundry, basic cooking, shared bills, and small chores. In a cămin or shared flat, agree written rules with flatmates.

Washing machine — in your flat or the building laundry room
  • Where: many blocks have shared laundry (coins or app); in-room machines are often in the bathroom or enclosed balcony.
  • Programs: labels in Romanian/English — bumbac (cotton), sintetice (synthetics), delicate; if unsure, use cool/medium wash and lower spin.
  • Detergent: supermarkets (Ariel, Persil, local brands); hard water in some areas needs less powder than you expect.
  • Drying: indoor rack; central heating in winter helps but ventilate to avoid damp smell.
  • Cost: building laundry often 3–8 RON per cycle; check hours and booking in small blocks.
  1. Separate whites, dark colours, and delicates; empty pockets.
  2. Check garment labels — if in doubt, 30–40 °C.
  3. Do not overfill the drum (about ¾ full).
  4. Hang laundry soon after the cycle to avoid odours.
Basic cooking and canteen
  • Starter kit: pot, pan, knife, board — discount stores or OLX second-hand.
  • Cheap food: Lidl/Kaufland for the week; market for produce.
  • University canteen — subsidised meals when available (cheaper than delivery apps).
  • Safety: never leave stoves unattended; in dorms follow shared-kitchen rules.
Bills, cleaning, and flatmates
  • Utilities: power/gas/internet often split — track who paid what (bank app or Revolut).
  • Block maintenance (întreținere): building fee separate from rent — ask the landlord what is included.
  • Cleaning: weekly rota for bathroom, kitchen, bins.
  • Rubbish: bins in the courtyard; ask the landlord for collection days.

Driving licence

  • EU licence: generally valid temporarily; for long-term use check conversion at DRPCIV (road registry).
  • Non-EU licence: often needs translation and international permit or re-examination — national rules apply.
  • Bucharest: heavy traffic; many students rely on public transport only.

Pets

Bringing a pet to Romania (EU)
  1. Microchip ISO 11784/11785.
  2. Valid rabies vaccination (after microchip).
  3. EU pet passport or equivalent health documents.
  4. Non-listed countries: check veterinary entry rules on ANSVSA.
  5. Lease: many landlords ban pets — get it in writing.

Culture: what surprises students

  • Language: English common among young people in university cities, but public offices often Romanian — learn basic phrases or use offline translation.
  • Cash: RON still widely used; cards accepted almost everywhere in cities.
  • Shop hours: Malls often open Sundays; public offices closed weekends.
  • Hospitality — Social culture; home invitations are common.
  • Winter — Central heating; bring warm clothing.

Useful apps

App / serviceUse
24pay, Info TBBucharest transport tickets
Bolt, UberTaxi / ride-hailing
Glovo, tazz, FoodpandaFood delivery
Revolut, local bank appsPayments
Google Translate (offline Romanian)Admin tasks
Portal IGI (web)Immigration appointments

Pharmacies, post, services

  • Pharmacies — Green cross sign; many 24h in city centres; OTC range smaller than in some EU countries.
  • Poșta Română — Parcels and registered mail; queues possible; Fan Courier, Cargus for e-commerce.
  • ATMs — Euronet machines may charge high fees; use traditional bank ATMs.

Last updated: May 2026 — gov.ro

Next step: insurance and GP — Health guide.

Heating

October–April extra condominium budget.

Quick reference

Warm social life, abundant food, cold winters. Fields and mountains nearby. English ok on campus, Romanian helps outside.

  • Mămăligă and ciorbă: local cuisine
  • Markets and Lidl
  • Quiet Sunday
  • Cheap WiFi and fiber

Transport

Mobility

CFR trains, Bucharest metro, buses. Bolt. Car less necessary on campus.

  • CFR
  • STB
  • Bolt

Climate and what to pack

Winter -10 possible; heavy coat. Hot summer.

  • Anti-slip ice shoes

Phone and internet

Telephone

Digi, Orange, Vodafone. Economical prepaid. Limited eSIMs.

  • WhatsApp dominant

Food and groceries

Good for students

Large portions. Affordable local markets. Top university canteen for budgets.

Habits and settling in

High hospitality. Administration delays — patience. Basic Romanian appreciated.

  • Măsline and soups
  • Orthodox holidays
Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Key numbers

ServiceNumber
Single EU emergency112
Gendarmerie (example Bucharest)021 9544 111 (verify locally)
Consumer helpline (ANPC)021 9551 (check hours)

Post & pharmacy

Poșta Română

Pharmacy

Prescription drugs; night-duty pharmacies published locally.

Go deeper

Driving licence & ID

Exchange rules, international permits, and minimum ages differ widely. Confirm with the national or state motoring authority in Romania before driving; rental desks usually require licence plus passport or national ID.

Mobile plans & SIM

Compare prepaid vs contract; you will usually need ID and sometimes proof of address. Ask about number portability, fair-use data caps, and EU/international roaming if you travel outside Romania.

Groceries & food

Mix discount supermarkets with local markets and food-rescue apps where they operate. Check Sunday opening rules and bag/bottle deposit schemes in Romania—they affect weekly cost.

Official government portal · Official energy efficiency hub

Trusted sources we used for this content

Romanian and EU public sources: Eurostat, Government portal, ANAF (tax), CNAS (health insurance), and the Interior Ministry. Confirm requirements on the official portal.