Apartment price illusion costs Romanian buyers up to 27,000 euros in a year

Buyers hoping for a dip in Romania's housing market have been disappointed, as apartment prices have climbed across all major cities in the past year. The rate of increase, however, varies significantly across different regions.

Bucharest stands out as the capital city with the most rapid residential market acceleration. According to the Imobiliare.ro Index, new apartments now sell for an average of 2,636 euros per square meter, a 21% jump from June 2025. Even older apartments saw a price hike of about 10%, reaching an average of 2,259 euros per square meter. This means delaying a purchase in Bucharest has been the most costly for those seeking new homes.

In contrast, Constanța has seen a relatively stable market for new apartments, with prices increasing by only 2% over the last year to an average of 2,071 euros per square meter. Brașov recorded a more moderate 7% rise, with new apartments averaging 2,724 euros per square meter. Cluj-Napoca, already one of Romania's priciest markets, experienced an 8% increase, bringing new apartments close to 3,500 euros per square meter.

The disparities highlight the uneven nature of Romania's real estate market. While new supply and development pace have tempered price increases in some urban centers, demand pressure in Bucharest has driven prices up more sharply. For older apartments, Timișoara recorded the highest price increase at 11%, reaching 1,918 euros per square meter. Bucharest followed with a 10% rise, while Iași saw a 7% increase to 1,978 euros per square meter. Cluj-Napoca and Brașov had the lowest increases for older units, at 5% and 6% respectively.