Incomes and expenses in Romanian households

Household spending in Romania increased in the third quarter of last year.

Roxana Vasile, 14.01.2025, 14:00

Household spending in Romania increased in the third quarter of last year.

In the third quarter of last year, a household in Romania had an average total monthly income of 8,255 lei, equivalent to about 1,650 euros, up 0.5% per household compared to the second quarter of the same year. According to the National Institute of Statistics, calculated for a single person, average monthly incomes were almost 3,300 lei, by 0.7% higher. Compared, this time, with the third quarter of the previous year, the average total monthly incomes of a household and those of a single person increased by just over 13%. Of the 8,255 lei earned in a family, last year, in the third quarter, most were spent. Higher by 9% compared to the previous year, the average monthly total expenses represented, in total, 85% of income.

In 2024, an increase in the purchasing power of the population was recorded, according to financial analyst Adrian Codirlaşu, who explains why inflation is perceived as higher than the statistics indicate: ʺWe see an increase in expenses higher than inflation. It is true, there is also a volume component, because, as income increased, a larger quantity was purchased ; ideally it would be possible to separate the volume part from the price increase part. But it is possible that certain things that are part of the expenses are not included in inflation and that is why inflation is actually felt much stronger than it is in reality. In principle, the shares remained relatively similar to the previous period.ʺ

The most important source of Romanians’ income was salaries and other salary rights, followed by those from social benefits, pensions,  unemployment or social assistance. In an urban household, the average total monthly income was 1.3 times higher than in rural areas, and, calculated for a single person, 1.5 times higher.

Most expenses in the third quarter were incurred by the consumption of agri-food products, non-alcoholic beverages and non-food products, for the payment of utility bills, taxes, contributions, dues or fees, but also for the purchase of clothing and footwear. The lowest level of average monthly expenses of households in Romania was the one made for education. ʺ85% of incomes go to taxes and expenses,ʺ  the Bucharest press reports, concluding, ironically, that ʺRomanians have higher incomes, but spend almost everything.ʺ