www.mediafax.ro/economic/cosul-pentru-un-trai-dece

A family of four in Romania needs 11,668 lei monthly for a decent living, according to a 2026 analysis by Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Syndex Romania. This amount is 298 lei higher than in 2025. For a single adult, the monthly requirement is 4,407 lei, while the current minimum net salary is 2,699 lei. The analysis shows significant increases in healthcare, education, and housing costs. The estimated decent minimum salary for 2026 is 5,542 lei net, which is 48.7% of the required amount for a decent living. The gap between minimum and decent salaries is narrowing but recovery is slow, with projections suggesting it may take until 2050 or later for the minimum wage to reach decent levels.