Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Romania Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Bucharest's property market is included in our pack
This blog article breaks down everything you need to know about rental yields in Bucharest, from gross and net returns to which neighborhoods deliver the best results for investors.
We update this article regularly so you always have fresh, reliable data to guide your property decisions.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
Insights
- Bucharest's average gross rental yield sits at around 6.1% in early 2026, which translates to roughly 0.51% of the property price collected in rent each month.
- The gap between Bucharest's highest-yield and lowest-yield neighborhoods can be as wide as 3.3 percentage points, ranging from about 3.8% in prime central areas to 7.1% in mass-market zones.
- Studios and small one-bedroom apartments in Bucharest typically deliver yields of 6% to 7% or higher, outperforming larger units because rents do not scale up as fast as purchase prices.
- Neighborhoods like Titan, Berceni, Militari, and Drumul Taberei consistently rank among Bucharest's highest-yield areas, thanks to affordable prices and strong metro connectivity.
- Prime areas such as Unirii, Dorobanți, and Floreasca offer the lowest yields in Bucharest, often between 3.8% and 5.5%, because buyers pay a premium for prestige and location.
- Bucharest's average vacancy rate hovers around 5%, but practical metro-connected neighborhoods can see vacancy as low as 2% to 4%.
- The typical net rental yield in Bucharest drops to about 4.6% after accounting for taxes, insurance, vacancy, and maintenance costs.
- Mandatory PAD disaster insurance costs landlords between 50 and 130 lei per year, which is a small but unavoidable expense unique to Romania.
- Full-service property management in Bucharest typically runs between 8% and 12% of monthly rent, plus a tenant placement fee of 50% to 100% of one month's rent.
- Metro Line M6, currently under development, is expected to boost rents in north Bucharest neighborhoods like Pajura, Expoziției, and Băneasa once completed.
What are the rental yields in Bucharest as of 2026?
What's the average gross rental yield in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average gross rental yield in Bucharest sits at around 6.1% per year for a typical long-term residential rental across all property types.
In practice, most standard Bucharest residential properties fall within a gross yield range of roughly 5% to 7%, depending on the neighborhood and unit size.
This positions Bucharest favorably compared to many Western European capitals, where gross yields often struggle to reach 4% to 5%, making the Romanian capital attractive for yield-focused investors.
The single biggest factor shaping gross yields in Bucharest right now is the combination of relatively affordable purchase prices and steady rental demand, especially in metro-connected neighborhoods where tenants prioritize commuting convenience.
What's the average net rental yield in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average net rental yield in Bucharest comes in at approximately 4.6% per year after deducting all typical landlord expenses.
This means investors typically see a gap of about 1.5 percentage points between gross and net yields in Bucharest, which accounts for vacancy, maintenance, insurance, and occasional repairs.
The expense that most significantly reduces gross yield in Bucharest is the vacancy and turnover buffer, followed closely by maintenance reserves, since older communist-era apartment blocks often require more upkeep than newer builds.
Most standard investment properties in Bucharest deliver net yields in the range of 3.5% to 5.5%, with the exact figure depending on building age, location quality, and how efficiently the landlord manages costs.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Romania compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What yield is considered "good" in Bucharest in 2026?
In Bucharest in 2026, local investors generally consider a gross rental yield of around 5.5% to 7% to be "good" for a solid, rentable residential property.
The threshold that separates average performers from high performers typically sits at about 7%, where anything above that level is considered very good but often comes with trade-offs like older buildings, weaker resale locations, or higher tenant risk.
How much do yields vary by neighborhood in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the spread in gross rental yields across Bucharest neighborhoods ranges from about 3.8% in the most expensive areas to approximately 7.1% in more affordable, high-demand zones.
The highest yields in Bucharest typically come from mass-market, metro-connected neighborhoods like Titan, Berceni, Militari, and Drumul Taberei, where purchase prices remain reasonable but rental demand stays strong.
On the other end, the lowest yields cluster in prime and prestige areas such as Unirii, Dorobanți, Primăverii, Floreasca, and Herăstrău, where buyers pay a premium for status and lifestyle rather than cash flow.
The main reason yields vary so dramatically across Bucharest is that rents do not rise proportionally with purchase prices, so expensive neighborhoods compress yields while affordable areas with practical metro access deliver stronger returns.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Bucharest.
How much do yields vary by property type in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, gross rental yields in Bucharest range from about 3.5% for large apartments and houses up to 7% or more for studios and small one-bedroom units.
Studios and compact one-bedroom apartments currently deliver the highest average gross yields in Bucharest, often reaching 6% to 7% or higher because they attract the widest pool of renters at affordable monthly rates.
Large apartments and houses or villas tend to produce the lowest yields in Bucharest, typically falling between 3.5% and 5.5%, unless they are rented as shared housing or to corporate tenants willing to pay premium rates.
The key reason yields differ so much between property types in Bucharest is that monthly rents simply do not scale up as fast as purchase prices when you move toward larger or more premium properties.
By the way, you might want to read the following:
What's the typical vacancy rate in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average residential vacancy rate in Bucharest sits at around 5% for long-term rentals across all property types.
Vacancy rates in Bucharest typically range from about 2% to 4% in practical, metro-connected, mid-priced neighborhoods, while luxury or niche properties in the north can experience vacancy of 6% to 9% due to thinner tenant pools.
The main factor driving vacancy rates in Bucharest is metro connectivity and rent affordability, since units near metro stations with reasonable monthly rents fill quickly while overpriced or poorly located properties sit longer.
Compared to other major European cities, Bucharest's vacancy rate is relatively healthy, reflecting strong underlying demand from a growing urban workforce and limited new rental supply in popular segments.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
What's the rent-to-price ratio in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average rent-to-price ratio in Bucharest is approximately 0.51% per month, meaning landlords collect about half a percent of their property's purchase price in monthly rent.
For buy-to-let investors in Bucharest, a monthly rent-to-price ratio above 0.5% is generally considered favorable, and this ratio is simply another way of expressing the gross rental yield divided by 12 months.
Bucharest's rent-to-price ratio compares favorably to cities like Prague or Budapest, where ratios often fall below 0.4%, making the Romanian capital one of the stronger yield markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Romania. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
Which neighborhoods and micro-areas in Bucharest give the best yields as of 2026?
Where are the highest-yield areas in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the top three highest-yield neighborhoods in Bucharest are Titan, Berceni, and Militari, with Drumul Taberei following closely behind.
These high-performing areas typically deliver gross rental yields in the range of 5.7% to 7.1%, depending on the specific micro-location and unit size within each neighborhood.
What Titan, Berceni, Militari, and Drumul Taberei all share is excellent metro connectivity, affordable purchase prices, and a large pool of everyday renters who prioritize practical commuting over prestige.
You'll find a much more detailed analysis of the areas with high profitability potential in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
Where are the lowest-yield areas in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the lowest-yield neighborhoods in Bucharest include Unirii, Dorobanți, and Floreasca, along with nearby prime areas like Primăverii and Herăstrău.
These prestigious zones typically produce gross rental yields in the range of 3.8% to 5.5%, which is noticeably lower than the city average.
Yields compress in these Bucharest neighborhoods because buyers pay a significant premium for location, brand, and lifestyle, while rents do not rise proportionally to match those elevated purchase prices.
Buying a property in a low-yield area is one of the mistakes we cover in our list of risks and pitfalls people face when buying property in Bucharest.
Which areas have the lowest vacancy in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the neighborhoods with the lowest residential vacancy rates in Bucharest include Militari (especially the Lujerului and Gorjului micro-areas), Drumul Taberei, and Titan.
These low-vacancy areas typically see vacancy rates in the range of 2% to 4%, meaning units rarely sit empty for long between tenants.
The main demand driver keeping vacancy low in Militari, Drumul Taberei, and Titan is the combination of metro access, nearby universities and offices, and mid-range rents that fit most working tenants' budgets.
The trade-off investors face when targeting these low-vacancy Bucharest neighborhoods is that competition for properties can be stiff, and the buildings are often older communist-era blocks requiring more maintenance attention.
Which areas have the most renter demand in Bucharest right now?
The neighborhoods currently experiencing the strongest renter demand in Bucharest are Pipera and Aurel Vlaicu (the office hub corridor), Timpuri Noi (a popular mixed-use area), and Politehnica near Grozăvești (driven by students and young professionals).
The renter profiles driving most of this demand are young professionals working in Bucharest's northern office parks, students attending nearby universities, and couples seeking convenient commutes to central business districts.
In these high-demand Bucharest neighborhoods, rental listings typically get filled within one to two weeks when priced correctly, and landlords often receive multiple inquiries per available unit.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our complete guide on how to buy and rent out in Bucharest.
Which upcoming projects could boost rents and rental yields in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the top infrastructure projects expected to boost rents in Bucharest are Metro Line M6 (running from 1 Mai to Otopeni), the Hala Matache urban revitalization in Sector 1, and ongoing improvements along the Buzești-Berzei corridor.
The neighborhoods most likely to benefit from these projects include 1 Mai, Pajura, Expoziției, Romexpo, Băneasa, and the DN1 corridor in north Bucharest, as well as the central areas around Piața Matache.
Once these projects are completed, investors might realistically expect rent increases of 5% to 15% in directly affected micro-areas, though the exact impact will depend on completion timelines and how quickly the surrounding amenities develop.
You'll find our latest property market analysis about Bucharest here.
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What property type should I buy for renting in Bucharest as of 2026?
Between studios and larger units in Bucharest, which performs best in 2026?
As of early 2026, studios and small one-bedroom apartments perform best in Bucharest in terms of both rental yield and occupancy rates.
Studios in Bucharest typically deliver gross yields of 6% to 7% or higher (roughly 350 to 500 euros per month in rent, or about 380 to 540 USD), while larger two or three-bedroom units often fall to 5% to 6% gross despite higher absolute rents.
The main factor explaining this difference is that Bucharest's renter population skews toward singles, couples, and young professionals who prioritize affordability over space, making smaller units easier to fill at attractive price points.
However, larger units can be the better choice if you target families seeking stability near good schools or corporate tenants willing to pay premium rents for extra space and quality finishes.
What property types are in most demand in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the most in-demand property type in Bucharest is the one to two-room apartment located near a metro station.
The top three property types ranked by current tenant demand are: first, compact apartments (one to two rooms) in metro-connected areas; second, newer apartments in north Bucharest with parking and modern amenities; and third, family-sized two to three-room apartments near schools and parks.
The primary trend driving this demand pattern is Bucharest's growing young professional workforce, which prioritizes commute efficiency and affordable monthly budgets over extra living space.
One property type currently underperforming in demand is the large villa or house in suburban areas without convenient public transport, as these properties struggle to attract tenants beyond a very narrow pool of families with cars.
What unit size has the best yield per m² in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, smaller units in the 25 to 45 square meter range (studios and compact one-bedrooms) deliver the best gross rental yield per square meter in Bucharest.
For this optimal unit size, the typical gross rental yield translates to roughly 10 to 14 euros per square meter per month (about 11 to 15 USD or 50 to 70 lei), depending on neighborhood and building quality.
Larger units tend to have lower yield per square meter because purchase prices climb faster than rents as you add space, while very tiny units sometimes face regulatory or lender constraints that limit their appeal.
By the way, we also have a blog article detailing whether owning an Airbnb rental is profitable in Bucharest.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Romania versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What costs cut my net yield in Bucharest as of 2026?
What are typical property taxes and recurring local fees in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the annual building tax for a typical rental apartment in Bucharest falls within the 0.08% to 0.2% range of the property's taxable value, which translates to roughly 200 to 600 lei per year (about 40 to 120 euros or 45 to 130 USD) for a standard unit.
Beyond building tax, Bucharest landlords should also budget for land tax if applicable, garbage collection fees, and any local administrative charges, which together typically add another 100 to 300 lei per year (around 20 to 60 euros or 22 to 65 USD).
Combined, these taxes and local fees usually represent about 1% to 2% of gross annual rental income for a typical Bucharest investment property, making them a manageable but unavoidable drag on returns.
By the way, we cover all the hidden fees and taxes in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
What insurance, maintenance, and annual repair costs should landlords budget in Bucharest right now?
Mandatory PAD disaster insurance for a Bucharest apartment costs between 50 and 130 lei per year (roughly 10 to 27 euros or 11 to 29 USD), while optional comprehensive home insurance typically adds another 100 to 250 euros annually (about 110 to 270 USD or 500 to 1,200 lei).
For maintenance and repairs, Bucharest landlords should budget approximately 0.5% to 1.0% of the property's value per year, which works out to about 500 to 1,500 euros annually (roughly 540 to 1,620 USD or 2,500 to 7,500 lei) for a typical apartment.
The repair expense that most commonly catches Bucharest landlords off guard is plumbing and pipe failures in older communist-era blocks, where aging infrastructure can lead to unexpected water damage and urgent fixes.
In total, landlords should realistically budget around 700 to 2,000 euros per year (approximately 760 to 2,160 USD or 3,500 to 10,000 lei) for insurance, maintenance, and repairs combined, depending on building age and condition.
Which utilities do landlords typically pay, and what do they cost in Bucharest right now?
In Bucharest, tenants typically pay for electricity, gas, water, internet, and the monthly building maintenance fee (întreținere), while landlords usually cover only major repairs and sometimes building-wide fees not linked to individual consumption.
For landlords who do include some utilities in the rent (common in furnished or short-term rentals), the monthly cost typically runs between 150 and 400 lei (about 30 to 80 euros or 33 to 87 USD), depending on the unit size and season.
What does full-service property management cost, including leasing, in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, full-service property management in Bucharest typically costs between 8% and 12% of monthly rent, which translates to roughly 30 to 70 euros per month (about 33 to 76 USD or 150 to 350 lei) for a standard apartment.
On top of ongoing management, tenant placement or leasing fees in Bucharest commonly run between 50% and 100% of one month's rent as a one-time charge when a new tenant is found, which can add 200 to 600 euros (about 220 to 650 USD or 1,000 to 3,000 lei) per turnover.
What's a realistic vacancy buffer in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, Bucharest landlords should set aside approximately 8% of annual rental income as a vacancy buffer, which is equivalent to about one month of rent per year.
In practice, most Bucharest landlords experience between two and four weeks of vacancy per year in well-located, correctly priced properties, though luxury or niche units may sit empty longer during tenant transitions.
Buying real estate in Bucharest can be risky
An increasing number of foreign investors are showing interest. However, 90% of them will make mistakes. Avoid the pitfalls with our comprehensive guide.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Bucharest, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| National Bank of Romania (NBR) Financial Stability Report | Romania's central bank publishes official risk and market data used by banks and regulators across the country. | We used it to anchor the macro picture of transaction activity and housing market context. We also used it to sanity-check whether our yield estimates align with Romania's housing and credit conditions. |
| ANCPI (via NBR) | ANCPI is Romania's official land registry and cadastre authority, making its transaction data the baseline for market activity. | We used it as an official reference point for transaction dynamics and liquidity. We used that to inform vacancy and time-to-let assumptions since active markets tend to clear rentals faster. |
| Market 360 by Imobiliare.ro | One of Romania's most-cited real estate data platforms with a long-running methodology and large listings dataset. | We used it to anchor Bucharest rent and price direction plus demand indicators. We used it to triangulate yield levels against other datasets instead of relying on a single index. |
| Market 360 Quarterly Report (T2 2025) | An official publication from a major Romanian real estate data provider with recent market mechanics. | We used it to capture recent pre-2026 market dynamics and avoid made-up narratives. We used it as a directional base and then adjusted conservatively into early 2026 using other sources. |
| Global Property Guide | A long-running international real estate dataset that publishes yield calculations transparently by neighborhood and unit size. | We used it as our main numerical yield spine for Bucharest in early 2026. We then cross-checked its yield range against Romanian local indices and rent-to-price signals. |
| Ministry of Finance Illustrated Tax Guide | An official government source explaining how property tax works in practice for Romanian property owners. | We used it to pin down the typical residential building tax rate band. We used it to avoid relying on blogs or hearsay for tax assumptions in our net yield calculations. |
| Ministry of Finance Legislation Portal | The government's own legislative and tax reference page for building taxes in Romania. | We used it to cross-check how building taxes are defined and applied. We used it as a second confirmation source alongside the illustrated tax guide. |
| DGITL Sector 1 | A Bucharest local tax authority site publishing 2026 local tax levels for one of the capital's main sectors. | We used it to ground the Bucharest reality since local taxes are set locally within national rules. We used it to keep net yield assumptions aligned with what residents actually pay in 2026. |
| PAID Romania | The official pool administering Romania's mandatory disaster insurance scheme for residential properties. | We used it to quantify the minimum mandatory insurance cost, which is a real unavoidable drag on net yield. We used it to keep the insurance part factual and Romania-specific. |
| ASF PAD Guide | ASF is Romania's national regulator for insurance and financial markets, providing official guidance on mandatory coverage. | We used it as a regulator cross-check that PAD is regulated and how it works. We used it to keep insurance statements aligned with official guidance. |
| Apa Nova București | The official operator for Bucharest water and sewer services that publishes official tariffs. | We used it to ground water and sewer costs with an official tariff source. We used it to explain utilities without relying on crowd-sourced estimates. |
| Termoenergetica (CMTEB) | The municipal district heating provider for Bucharest that publishes official tariff references. | We used it to explain heating and hot water cost mechanics for buildings on district heating. We used it as an official reference for what utilities look like in Bucharest. |
| ANRE | Romania's official energy regulator overseeing electricity pricing and distribution tariffs. | We used it to support statements about regulated components of electricity pricing entering 2026. We used it to avoid quoting random supplier marketing pages as the truth. |
| Magistrala 6 Official Project Site | The official project communication site for Metro Line M6 in Bucharest. | We used it to identify which micro-areas are structurally affected by the new metro line. We used it to justify which neighborhoods could see rent support from improved connectivity. |
| Primăria Sector 1 | The official municipal authority for Bucharest's Sector 1, publishing investment project information. | We used it to identify urban revitalization projects that could improve liveability and perception. We used it to link specific projects to micro-areas where rents may benefit over time. |
| Orașul București | A local news and information source covering Bucharest real estate with recent rent range reporting. | We used it to understand current rent distributions across Bucharest neighborhoods. We used it to validate demand patterns and tenant behavior in different parts of the city. |
| Baselane | A property management resource that publishes transparent fee breakdowns used as industry benchmarks. | We used it to triangulate property management fee ranges for Bucharest. We then validated these against local firm quotes to ensure the estimates fit the Romanian market. |
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