Romania remains one of the cheapest countries in the European Union.
With prices 36% below the EU average, our country is surpassed only by Bulgaria, where goods and services are 40% cheaper than the European average, according to a Eurostat report.
However, this advantage is relative, considering that Romania also ranks among the countries with the lowest incomes and GDP per capita in the Union.
According to the Eurostat methodology, the data published in June 2025 is based on consumer prices for a standard set of representative goods and services, as well as information on GDP expenditures.
In the analysis, 36 European countries were included, and the National Institute of Statistics (INS) confirms that prices in Romania are significantly below the EU average for most consumption categories.
We have the lowest price in the EU for food and beverages
In the "Food and non-alcoholic beverages" category, Romania records the lowest price level, representing only 76% of the European Union average.
Following are Slovakia (83%) and Poland (87%), while Luxembourg (125%) and Denmark (120%) are the most expensive countries in this group.
Romania ranks first in the "Recreation and culture" category, with a price index of 67%, followed by Bulgaria (68%).
Additionally, in Bulgaria, the lowest prices are found for housing maintenance, electricity, and gas (38%), while Croatia has the lowest prices after Bulgaria in this category, at 44%.
At the opposite pole, the Nordic countries and Luxembourg
On the other hand, Denmark was the most expensive country in the EU, according to 2024 data, with prices 43% above the European average.
It is followed by Ireland (38%), Luxembourg (33%), and Finland (24%). Ireland surpasses all other states in prices for alcoholic beverages, tobacco (205%), and utilities (187%), while Denmark leads in "Clothing and footwear" (133%), "Transport" (125%), and "Recreation and culture" (137%).
Romania, below the EU average and in GDP per capita
However, Romania is also one of the countries with the lowest incomes. According to Eurostat, the GDP per capita volume index, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP), was only 78% of the EU average in 2024.
Below Romania are Hungary and Croatia (77%), and lastly, Bulgaria, with a GDP per capita 34% below the EU average.
The highest GDP per capita is in Luxembourg, exceeding the EU average by 142%. This indicator is significantly influenced by the large number of foreign workers contributing to the economy but not included in the resident population.