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
If you're thinking about buying an apartment in Bucharest to rent it out, you're probably wondering what kind of return you can actually expect.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest data on rental yields, rents, and costs in Bucharest so you always have fresh numbers to work with.
This guide breaks down everything from gross and net yields to neighborhood differences and the real costs that eat into your profits.
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.
What rental yields can I realistically get from an apartment in Bucharest?
What's the average gross rental yield for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average gross rental yield for apartments in Bucharest sits around 5.5%, which means for every €100,000 you invest, you can expect roughly €5,500 in annual rent before expenses.
Most apartment investments in Bucharest fall within a realistic gross yield range of 5.0% to 6.5%, though studios and well-located one-bedroom units often hit the higher end of that range.
The main factor that causes gross yields to vary significantly in Bucharest is proximity to metro stations, because the city's rental market is shaped around the metro network and tenants pay a clear premium to live within walking distance of stops like Universitate, Piata Victoriei, or Tineretului.
Compared to other major cities in the region, Bucharest's gross yields are competitive with cities like Budapest and Prague, though slightly lower than some secondary Eastern European markets where prices haven't caught up as fast.
What's the average net rental yield for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average net rental yield for apartments in Bucharest ranges from about 3.5% to 4.5%, depending heavily on whether you manage the property yourself or hire a management company.
If you self-manage your Bucharest apartment, you can realistically expect net yields between 4.3% and 4.8%, but if you fully outsource management, that drops to around 3.4% to 4.3%.
The single biggest expense that reduces gross yield to net yield for Bucharest apartments is the management fee combined with vacancy, because finding reliable tenants and handling turnover in a city where many renters are young professionals who move frequently can easily cost you 15% to 25% of your gross income.
By the way, you will find much more detailed data in our property pack covering the real estate market in Bucharest.
What's the typical rent-to-price ratio for apartments in Bucharest in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical monthly rent-to-price ratio for apartments in Bucharest falls between 0.40% and 0.55%, which translates to roughly 4.8% to 6.6% when annualized.
Most apartment transactions in Bucharest show rent-to-price ratios clustering around 0.45% to 0.50% per month, with studios often reaching 0.55% and larger family apartments dipping closer to 0.40%.
Studios and one-bedroom apartments near metro stations in areas like Militari, Titan, or Drumul Taberei tend to have the highest rent-to-price ratios in Bucharest, because purchase prices remain moderate while tenant demand from young professionals and students stays consistently strong.
How much rent can I charge for an apartment in Bucharest?
What's the typical tenant budget range for apartments in Bucharest right now?
The typical monthly tenant budget for renting an apartment in Bucharest ranges from €350 to €700, which is roughly 1,750 to 3,500 Romanian lei or $370 to $740 USD.
Tenants looking for mid-range apartments in Bucharest typically budget between €450 and €650 per month (2,250 to 3,250 lei, or $475 to $690 USD), which usually gets them a decent one or two-bedroom apartment with good metro access.
For high-end or luxury apartments in Bucharest, tenants budget €900 to €1,500 per month (4,500 to 7,500 lei, or $950 to $1,590 USD), especially in prime northern neighborhoods like Dorobanti, Floreasca, or Herastrau.
We have a blog article where we update the latest data about rents in Bucharest here.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bed apartment in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bed apartment (called "2 camere" in Romanian listings) in Bucharest is around €580, which is approximately 2,900 lei or $615 USD.
Entry-level 1-bed apartments in Bucharest rent for €450 to €520 per month (2,250 to 2,600 lei, or $475 to $550 USD), and these are typically older communist-era blocks in areas like Berceni or Pantelimon with basic renovations and good metro access.
Mid-range 1-bed apartments in Bucharest command €520 to €650 per month (2,600 to 3,250 lei, or $550 to $690 USD), usually featuring modern kitchens and bathrooms in popular areas like Tineretului, Dristor, or Lujerului.
High-end 1-bed apartments in Bucharest reach €700 to €950 per month (3,500 to 4,750 lei, or $740 to $1,010 USD), often located in new builds with amenities in Aviatiei, Pipera, or the northern business district.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bed apartment in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bed apartment (called "3 camere" in Romanian listings) in Bucharest is around €650, which is approximately 3,250 lei or $690 USD.
Entry-level 2-bed apartments in Bucharest rent for €550 to €620 per month (2,750 to 3,100 lei, or $580 to $660 USD), typically found in residential areas like Drumul Taberei or Militari with functional layouts and basic finishes.
Mid-range 2-bed apartments in Bucharest command €620 to €800 per month (3,100 to 4,000 lei, or $660 to $850 USD), often featuring balconies, updated interiors, and locations in areas like Titan, Vitan, or central-adjacent neighborhoods.
High-end 2-bed apartments in Bucharest reach €850 to €1,200 per month (4,250 to 6,000 lei, or $900 to $1,270 USD), usually in premium buildings in Floreasca, Dorobanti, or near Herastrau Park with modern amenities.
What's the average monthly rent for a 3-bed apartment in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the average monthly rent for a 3-bed apartment (called "4 camere" in Romanian listings) in Bucharest is around €1,050, which is approximately 5,250 lei or $1,110 USD.
Entry-level 3-bed apartments in Bucharest rent for €900 to €1,000 per month (4,500 to 5,000 lei, or $950 to $1,060 USD), typically older buildings in outer sectors like Rahova or Colentina with basic updates and more square footage.
Mid-range 3-bed apartments in Bucharest command €1,000 to €1,250 per month (5,000 to 6,250 lei, or $1,060 to $1,325 USD), often featuring family-friendly layouts in established neighborhoods like Tei, Bucurestii Noi, or parts of Sector 3.
High-end 3-bed apartments in Bucharest reach €1,400 to €2,000 per month (7,000 to 10,000 lei, or $1,485 to $2,120 USD), located in premium northern zones like Primaverii, Aviatorilor, or luxury new developments near Herastrau.
How fast do well-priced apartments get rented in Bucharest?
A well-priced apartment in Bucharest typically rents within 1 to 3 weeks, especially studios and one-bedroom units near metro stations or university areas like Grozavesti or Politehnica.
The typical vacancy rate for apartments in Bucharest is around 4% to 6% annually, which means most landlords budget for roughly one month of vacancy per year in their calculations.
The main factors that cause some apartments to rent faster than others in Bucharest are metro proximity (tenants strongly prefer being within 10 minutes walk of a station), predictable heating costs (winter utility surprises scare tenants away), and fiber internet availability (the city's large tech and remote worker population demands reliable connectivity).
And if you want to know what should be the right price, check our latest update on how much an apartment should cost in Bucharest.
Which apartment type gives the best yield in Bucharest?
Which is better for yield between studios, 1-bed, 2-bed and 3-bed apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, studios and 1-bed apartments typically offer the best rental yields in Bucharest, consistently outperforming larger units by 1 to 2 percentage points in gross yield.
In Bucharest, typical gross rental yields by apartment type are: studios at 5.5% to 6.5%, 1-beds at 5.0% to 6.2%, 2-beds at 4.0% to 5.2%, and 3-beds usually below 4.5% unless purchased at a discount.
The main reason studios and 1-beds outperform in Bucharest is that smaller units rent for significantly more per square meter because they serve as the entry point for the city's large population of young professionals, IT workers, and university students who cluster around metro lines and job centers.
Which features are best if you want a good yield for your apartment in Bucharest?
The top features that boost rental yield for apartments in Bucharest are metro proximity (within 10 minutes walk), efficient layouts without wasted corridor space, modernized heating systems with predictable winter costs, and fiber internet connectivity for the city's large remote worker population.
In Bucharest, mid-floor apartments (floors 2 to 6 in buildings with elevators) tend to rent easiest because they avoid ground-floor security concerns and top-floor heat issues during summer, while also staying below the psychological resistance some tenants have to very high floors.
Balconies do help apartments rent faster in Bucharest, especially after the pandemic increased demand for outdoor space, though they typically add €20 to €40 per month rather than dramatically changing the yield calculation.
Building features like elevators are essentially mandatory for floors above 3 in Bucharest to attract quality tenants, but premium amenities like concierge or underground parking mainly benefit luxury segments and often come with higher service charges that eat into net yield rather than boosting it.
Which neighborhoods give the best rental demand for apartments in Bucharest?
Which neighborhoods have the highest rental demand for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the neighborhoods with highest rental demand for apartments in Bucharest are the northern business corridor (Aviatiei, Pipera, Floreasca), central areas (Universitate, Unirii, Piata Romana, Victoriei), and student zones (Grozavesti, Politehnica, Tineretului).
The main demand driver in these Bucharest neighborhoods is job concentration, because tenants want to minimize commute times to the major office clusters in the north and center, and Bucharest's traffic congestion makes metro-accessible locations particularly valuable.
In these high-demand Bucharest neighborhoods, well-priced apartments typically rent within 1 to 2 weeks, with vacancy rates running below 4% annually compared to the citywide average of around 5%.
One emerging neighborhood gaining rental demand in Bucharest is Drumul Taberei, where the relatively new metro extension (Line M5) has dramatically improved connectivity and attracted tenants who previously wouldn't have considered the area.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing what are the current best areas to invest in property in Bucharest.
Which neighborhoods have the highest yields for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the neighborhoods with highest rental yields for apartments in Bucharest are Militari (especially the Lujerului and Gorjului corridor), Drumul Taberei, Titan, Dristor, and selected pockets of Berceni near metro stations.
In these high-yield Bucharest neighborhoods, typical gross rental yields range from 5.5% to 7%, compared to 4% to 5% in premium northern areas like Dorobanti or Herastrau.
The main reason these neighborhoods offer higher yields than others in Bucharest is that purchase prices remain 20% to 35% below prime north levels while tenant demand stays strong thanks to good metro connectivity, large existing rental populations, and proximity to job centers without the premium price tag.
Should I do long-term rental or short-term rental in Bucharest?
Is short-term rental legal for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, short-term rentals are legal for apartments in Bucharest, but only if you comply with Romania's tourism accommodation classification requirements and tax rules.
The main legal requirements for operating a short-term rental apartment in Bucharest include registering your property with the Romanian Tourism Ministry through their official classification portal, correctly reporting income to ANAF (the tax authority), and respecting any rules set by your condominium association under Law 196/2018.
For Airbnb-style rentals in Bucharest, you need to obtain formal tourism classification from the Ministry portal, register for appropriate taxation (which can be done under the touristic rental norms), and maintain compliance with building-level rules that your condo association may enforce regarding noise, guest access, and common area use.
By the way, we also have a blog article detailing whether owning an Airbnb rental is profitable in Bucharest.
What's the gross yield difference short-term vs long-term in Bucharest in 2026?
As of early 2026, well-executed short-term rentals in central Bucharest can generate gross yields of 8% to 11%, compared to 5% to 6.5% for long-term rentals, giving a potential uplift of 2 to 4 percentage points.
For apartments in Bucharest, typical gross yields are 5% to 6.5% for long-term rentals versus 8% to 11% for short-term rentals in tourist-friendly central locations like Old Town, Unirii, Universitate, or near Victoriei.
The main additional costs that reduce the net yield advantage of short-term rentals in Bucharest include cleaning between guests (typically €15 to €30 per turnover), utilities that the landlord pays, consumables, platform fees (Airbnb takes around 3%), more frequent maintenance and wear, and potentially higher building service charges if your condo association objects to constant guest traffic.
To outperform a long-term rental in Bucharest, a short-term rental typically needs to achieve at least 55% to 65% occupancy annually, because the higher gross revenue has to cover the substantially increased operating costs and management effort.
What costs will eat into my net yield for an apartment in Bucharest?
What are building service charges as a % of rent in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, building service charges for apartments in Bucharest typically run 2% to 5% of annual rent for long-term landlords (around €150 to €400 per year, or 750 to 2,000 lei, or $160 to $425 USD) when tenants pay their own utilities directly.
The realistic range of building service charges in Bucharest varies from about 2% of rent for simple blocks with minimal shared services up to 12% to 18% of gross revenue for short-term rentals where the owner covers all utilities and turnover costs.
In Bucharest, higher-than-average service charges are typically justified by central heating systems with shared metering (common in communist-era blocks), elevator maintenance in taller buildings, 24-hour security or concierge in newer developments, and aggressive building modernization funds that some condo associations levy for facade or infrastructure upgrades.
What annual maintenance budget should I assume for an apartment in Bucharest right now?
A practical annual maintenance budget for an apartment in Bucharest is around 1% of the property value, which means roughly €800 to €1,200 per year (4,000 to 6,000 lei, or $850 to $1,270 USD) for a typical €80,000 to €120,000 unit.
The realistic range of annual maintenance costs in Bucharest runs from 0.8% of property value for newer or recently renovated apartments up to 1.5% for older communist-era blocks with aging systems and more frequent repair needs.
The most common maintenance expenses Bucharest apartment owners face include boiler and heating system repairs (critical given harsh winters), window and balcony weatherproofing, bathroom fixture replacement due to hard water buildup, and appliance repairs or replacements that tenants expect landlords to handle promptly.
What property taxes should I expect for an apartment in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical annual property tax for an apartment in Bucharest is around €80 to €120 (400 to 600 lei, or $85 to $125 USD) for a standard 50 to 70 square meter unit, which represents well under 1% of annual rent.
The realistic range of property taxes in Bucharest depends on apartment size and assessed value, running from roughly €50 per year (250 lei, $53 USD) for a small studio up to €200 per year (1,000 lei, $210 USD) for larger or higher-value apartments.
Property taxes in Bucharest are calculated based on the building's surface area, construction type, and age, with local councils applying rates within legally defined limits that tend to be modest compared to Western European countries.
There are some property tax reductions available in Bucharest for pensioners and certain categories of owners, though for investment properties these exemptions rarely apply.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Bucharest.
How much does landlord insurance cost for an apartment in Bucharest in 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical annual landlord insurance cost for an apartment in Bucharest is around €100 to €180 (500 to 900 lei, or $105 to $190 USD), combining mandatory catastrophe coverage with recommended optional protection.
The realistic range of annual landlord insurance costs in Bucharest breaks into two parts: the mandatory PAD catastrophe policy at €10 to €20 per year, plus optional comprehensive coverage that typically runs 0.10% to 0.15% of property value annually, so roughly €80 to €180 for a €100,000 apartment.
What's the typical property management fee for apartments in Bucharest as of 2026?
As of early 2026, the typical property management fee in Bucharest is around 10% of monthly rent (plus VAT), which works out to roughly €50 to €70 per month (250 to 350 lei, or $53 to $75 USD) for an average apartment.
The realistic range of property management fees in Bucharest runs from about 8% for basic services up to 15% for comprehensive packages, with most professional managers charging around 10% plus a tenant placement fee equivalent to one month's rent when finding new occupants.
Standard property management services in Bucharest typically include tenant sourcing, rent collection, routine maintenance coordination, and handling tenant communications, while more comprehensive packages add periodic property inspections and financial reporting.
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 Name | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Imobiliare.ro | Romania's largest property listing platform with consistent monthly price tracking. | We used it as our main anchor for Bucharest apartment asking prices per square meter. We then calculated gross yields by combining these prices with rent data from other sources. |
| Wall-Street.ro (Storia data) | Major Romanian business outlet using the extensive Storia.ro rental dataset. | We used it to pin down late-2025 and early-2026 asking rents by apartment type and by sector. We treated these figures as our primary rent inputs for yield calculations. |
| Bucharest.ro | City information portal that clearly references the underlying Storia analysis. | We used it as a cross-check for sector-by-sector rent levels and the asking versus negotiated price caveat. We only used numbers where the Storia source was clearly cited. |
| Colliers Romania | Top-tier global real estate consultancy with formal research methodology. | We used it for market context on financing conditions, supply and demand dynamics, and affordability. We used it to sanity-check whether our yield assumptions fit the broader Bucharest market. |
| Romanian Law 196/2018 | Official public legislative portal for Romanian condominium association law. | We used it to explain what building service charges typically cover in Bucharest apartment blocks. We used it to show why these costs can materially affect net yield. |
| Sector 5 Tax Authority (DITL5) | Official local tax authority with concrete 2026 calculation examples. | We used it to anchor a realistic annual property tax figure for typical apartment sizes in Bucharest. We then translated that into percentage-of-rent impact on net yield. |
| DLA Piper REALWORLD | Reputable international law firm summarizing local tax rules with citations. | We used it to verify the legal range of building tax rates for residential properties. We used it as a legal sanity check alongside local tax examples. |
| Asirom (PAD Insurance) | Mainstream insurer explaining Romania's mandatory catastrophe policy and premium. | We used it to quantify the mandatory insurance cost that every Bucharest landlord must pay. We then added optional coverage separately for a complete investor view. |
| Banca Transilvania | Major Romanian bank with transparent pricing for optional home insurance. | We used it to estimate optional landlord insurance as an annual percentage of property value. We converted that into a clean yield drag estimate for our calculations. |
| Imobilus | Local Bucharest property management operator with published fee schedules. | We used it as a Bucharest-specific reference point for management fee levels. We showed both self-managed and fully managed scenarios in our net yield estimates. |
| Romanian Tourism Ministry Portal | Official government portal for tourism accommodation classification requirements. | We used it to ground the legal compliance discussion for short-term rentals. We explained what being legal actually requires in practice for Bucharest Airbnb operators. |
| Airbnb Romania Tax Guide | Structured compliance guide prepared by professional law firm for the platform. | We used it to cross-check the types of taxes and filings triggered by short-term letting. We treated it as supportive guidance alongside official ANAF and Ministry sources. |
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