Romania uses the leu (plural: lei) as its official currency, a name that carries historical significance. Derived from the Dutch word for 'lion,' it reflects the imagery of 17th-century gold coins that circulated in the region. The ISO code for this currency is RON, and it's subdivided into bani, with one leu equating to 100 bani.
The leu has undergone significant transformations since its establishment as Romania's legal tender in 1867 following independence. Initially pegged to precious metals like silver and gold, it faced challenges during both World Wars which led to various reforms over time. Notably, after World War II and under socialist governance, new versions of the leu were introduced—most recently in 2005 when a redenomination occurred at a rate of 10,000 old lei for every new one.
Today’s economic landscape sees the Romanian leu freely convertible against major currencies such as euros and dollars but not directly exchangeable with yuan. As of mid-2025, you could expect an exchange rate around 1 euro being equivalent to approximately 5.28 lei or about 4.48 lei per dollar.
Interestingly enough, despite joining the European Union back in 2007, Romania has yet to adopt the euro as its official currency—a decision influenced by ongoing economic considerations and public sentiment regarding national identity tied closely with their own monetary system.
In everyday life within Romania today, residents encounter prices marked clearly in lei—from groceries to utilities—with current electricity rates hovering around one leu per kilowatt-hour and minimum monthly wages set at approximately 4,050 lei.