Romania
Transylvania, painted monasteries and fast internet, at half western European prices.
Cheaper. The exchange rate moved +9.9%; local prices rose +8.1%.
- Lean
- $41
- Comfort
- $185
Ranked 18 of 65.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Romania is 5.2% cheaper for US-dollar travelers than a year ago, after adjusting for inflation. A mid-range day costs about $88 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 1 (normal precautions), and it ranks 18 of 65 on the Trip Arbitrage Index with a score of 66 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 51
- Price floor ×0.30
- 58
- Safety ×0.20
- 100
- Ease ×0.14
- 75
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +5.1% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +5.2% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +9.9% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +8.1% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | −7.0% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 1 | Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 4.0 / 5 | Well set up |
- Guesthouses with dinner at $40
- Carpathian hiking
- Bucharest's food and nightlife
Trains are slow, and the leu is tightly managed against the euro, so big swings are rare.
When to go
November is off season- Janoff
- Feboff
- Maroff
- Aprshoulder
- Maypeak
- Junpeak
- Juloff
- Augoff
- Seppeak
- Octshoulder
- Novoff
- Decoff
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 1: Normal precautions · updated October 13, 2025
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Well set up · 4.0 / 5
Romania, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Romania?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Romania costs about $41 on a lean budget, $88 mid-range and $185 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Romania cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- Yes. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved +9.9% for US-dollar holders while prices in Romania rose +8.1%, a net real change of +5.2% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Romania is 7.0% more expensive.
- Is Romania safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Romania at Level 1: Normal precautions. Trains are slow, and the leu is tightly managed against the euro, so big swings are rare. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Romania?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are April, October. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in May, June, September. November is off season.
- How easy is Romania to travel around?
- Romania scores 4.0 out of 5 for ease of travel (well set up), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. Transylvania, painted monasteries and fast internet, at half western European prices.
Elsewhere in Europe
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Romania reads +5.2% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $88. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.