Press release: Update of the minimum consumption basket for a decent living standard 2025

The minimum consumption basket for a decent living for a family of two adults and two children for September 2025 is 11,370 lei per month. The minimum consumption basket for a decent living for a family of two adults and two children increased in 2025 by almost 9 percent (8.8%) compared to 2024, from 10,450/month to 11,370 lei/month.

Compared to 2024, the value of the basket is 920 lei higher. The increase in the total value of the consumption basket this year is determined by the increase in costs for most categories, and in particular food (category 1, +181 lei), housing acquisition (category 3, +171 lei), and housing expenses (category 5, maintenance, utilities, +170 lei). In percentage terms, housing expenses increased the most (+22.6%).

The tables below show the updated value of the consumer basket for a decent minimum standard of living in September 2025. The tables include comparisons with the basket for September 2024.

For families other than the reference family consisting of two adults and two children, calculations show that the value of the basket for a family of two adults and one child is 9,343 lei per month, for a family of two adults without children it is 7,002 lei per month, and for a single adult it is 4,322 lei per month.

Minimum consumption basket value for a decent standard of living for families other than the reference family, updated September 2025*

* These estimates are derived and are less accurate than the basket value for the reference family consisting of two adults and two children.

The basket value was recalculated based on the price indices reported by the National Institute of Statistics for September 2025 compared to September 2024.

The idea of a minimum consumption basket for a decent living involves putting together a set of periodic expenses necessary to meet the basic needs of a family with a given structure. In addition to the immediate needs for survival — shelter, food — the minimum basket for a decent living covers a comprehensive range of current needs such as clothing, personal hygiene, education, health care, transportation, communications, recreation, as well as any unforeseen expenses (family events, health problems, etc.).

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For details on the structure and method of updating the minimum consumption basket value for a decent living, see the initial study:

Ștefan Guga, Adina Mihăilescu și Marcel Spatari, „Coșul minim de consum lunar pentru un trai decent pentru populația României”, București, 2018, Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung, disponibil online la adresa: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/bukarest/14759.pdf .

For further information, please contact us at the following details: Tudorina Mihai, tudorina.mihai(at)fes.de, tel. 0726380674