“These Are the Times”: Romanians Debate €208,000 Apartment in Southern Bucharest

“These are the times,” a Romanian apartment buyer wrote after paying €208,000 for a three-room home in southern Bucharest. His post on Reddit quickly sparked a heated debate about the city’s rising property prices.

The buyer said the apartment, near Tudor Arghezi Park, measures 79 square meters without balconies and almost 90 square meters with them. The price also includes an underground parking space. He bought the home through a 30-year loan, although he hopes to repay it ahead of schedule.

“

These are the times

He added that apartments in a neighboring residential development, which is still under construction, had already become 10% to 15% more expensive. In his original post, he summarized the purchase simply: “I got the keys, Bucharest, 208k, 4.79%.”

Many Romanians said the amount was startling and showed how difficult buying a home has become. Others compared Bucharest prices with those in other European capitals or described sharp increases in property values across Romania.

“

I got the keys, Bucharest, 208k, 4.79%

One commenter said apartments in central Bucharest can cost just as much, even in older communist-era buildings. The user recalled seeing three-room flats in areas including Aviației, Unirii, Civic Center, Decebal and Alba Iulia sell for more than €190,000, while renovated units with central heating exceeded €220,000. Rather than pay that amount, the commenter said, they bought a fully renovated four-room apartment near a park and a metro station, two stops farther away.

Other users considered more than €200,000 excessive for the southern district. One praised the residential complex but called the price “insane” for an area so far from other amenities. Another wrote, “€200,000 for Berceni is sheer madness,” arguing that a buyer could purchase a house in Berceni commune for that sum.

“

€200,000 for Berceni is sheer madness