Apartment Prices in Romania Rise by 12% Year-on-Year in June: New Units Often Cheaper Than Old Ones in Major Cities

In June, apartment prices—both new and old—continued their upward trend across Romania’s major cities, registering an average annual increase of 12% compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis by Storia, the real estate platform launched by OLX.

The steepest price hikes (for both new and old units combined) were recorded in Craiova (+17%), Sibiu (+15%), and Cluj-Napoca (+14%). At the other end of the spectrum, more moderate growth was seen in Brașov, Bucharest, and Oradea, where prices rose by around 12%.

Cities Where New Apartments Are Cheaper Than Old Ones

BUCHAREST

Romania’s capital still has the largest price gap between new and old apartments. In June, the average price per square meter stood at €1,893 for new units and €2,297 for old ones.

• A 40 sqm studio in a new building sold for an average of €75,720, which is €16,160 cheaper than a comparable old unit (€91,880).
• A 55 sqm two-bedroom apartment in a new building averaged €104,115, compared to €126,335 for an old one—a €22,220 difference.
• The widest gap was seen in 75 sqm three-bedroom apartments: €141,975 (new) vs. €172,275 (old)—a €30,300 difference.

BRAȘOV

In Brașov, price differences are relatively modest:

• New: €2,177/sqm | Old: €2,221/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €87,075 (new) vs. €88,840 (old) → €1,765 less
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €119,729 (new) vs. €122,155 (old) → €2,426 less
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €163,266 (new) vs. €166,575 (old) → €3,309 less

CLUJ-NAPOCA

One of Romania’s most expensive housing markets, Cluj-Napoca sees minimal differences between new and old apartments:

• New: €3,106/sqm | Old: €3,127/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €124,221 (new) vs. €125,080 (old) → €859 less
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €170,805 (new) vs. €171,985 (old) → €1,180 less
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €232,915 (new) vs. €234,525 (old) → €1,610 less

CONSTANȚA

Old apartments in this seaside city remain more expensive, particularly for larger homes:

• New: €1,922/sqm | Old: €2,025/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €76,878 (new) vs. €81,000 (old) → €4,122 less
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €105,707 (new) vs. €111,375 (old) → €5,668 less
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €144,146 (new) vs. €151,875 (old) → €7,729 less

IAȘI

Iași also shows consistently higher prices for old units across all apartment types:

• New: €1,724/sqm | Old: €1,902/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €68,972 (new) vs. €76,080 (old) → €7,108 less
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €94,837 (new) vs. €104,610 (old) → €9,773 less
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €129,323 (new) vs. €142,650 (old) → €13,327 less

SIBIU

Sibiu follows a similar pattern, though the price differences are small:

• New: €1,849/sqm | Old: €1,863/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €73,964 (new) vs. €74,520 (old) → €556 less
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €101,701 (new) vs. €102,465 (old) → €764 less
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €138,683 (new) vs. €139,725 (old) → €1,042 less

Cities Where New Apartments Are More Expensive Than Old Ones

CRAIOVA

Craiova is one of the few major cities where new apartments command higher prices:

• New: €1,929/sqm | Old: €1,877/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €77,157 (new) vs. €75,080 (old) → €2,077 more
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €106,091 (new) vs. €103,235 (old) → €2,856 more
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €144,670 (new) vs. €140,775 (old) → €3,895 more

ORADEA

New homes in Oradea are also priced significantly higher than old ones:

• New: €1,831/sqm | Old: €1,752/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €73,234 (new) vs. €70,080 (old) → €3,154 more
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €100,697 (new) vs. €96,360 (old) → €4,337 more
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €137,314 (new) vs. €131,400 (old) → €5,914 more

TIMIȘOARA

Timisoara shows the largest price gaps favoring new apartments:

• New: €1,903/sqm | Old: €1,789/sqm
• 40 sqm studio: €76,170 (new) vs. €71,560 (old) → €4,610 more
• 55 sqm two-bedroom: €104,734 (new) vs. €98,395 (old) → €6,339 more
• 75 sqm three-bedroom: €142,819 (new) vs. €134,175 (old) → €8,644 more

Conclusion: While prices are rising across Romania, new apartments are not always more expensive—especially in cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Iași, and Constanța, where older homes often come with a premium. However, Craiova, Oradea, and Timișoara stand out as markets where new construction leads in pricing, reflecting demand for modern amenities and energy-efficient buildings.

(Figures provided by Storia | Photo: Freepik)