Romania and Poland are two of the countries people most often shortlist together when moving to the EU. Below is an honest side-by-side on the things that shape daily life, with the stronger country marked on each row. On these measures Romania comes out ahead on 4, Poland on 4.
Rent is the clearest split: a one-bed runs about EUR 500 a month in Romania against EUR 700 in Poland, so Romania saves you roughly EUR 200 every month.
Typical net pay is EUR 1,000 a month in Romania and EUR 1,300 in Poland, putting Poland EUR 300 ahead before anything else is counted.
What actually matters is the money left after rent: EUR 500 in Romania against EUR 600 in Poland, which is where Poland pulls ahead.
🇷🇴Romania
🇵🇱Poland
Money & housing
Cost of living
42/100 ✓
45/100
Tax burden
35/100 ✓
45/100
Housing pressure
48/100 ✓
55/100
Documents & staying
Years to citizenship
~8 yrs
~8 yrs
Bureaucracy
68/100
65/100 ✓
Daily life
Safety
75/100
75/100
Healthcare
58/100
60/100 ✓
Public transport
55/100
70/100 ✓
English
60/100
60/100
Schools
60/100
65/100 ✓
Remote-work
75/100 ✓
70/100
Climate
Cold
Cold
EU facts
Currency
Leu
Zloty
Schengen area
Yes
Yes
Illustrative MoveMap estimates (0-100 scores), not official statistics. For cost, tax, housing, bureaucracy and years, lower is better, for the rest higher is better. A ✓ marks the stronger country on rows that can be ranked. Currency and Schengen status verified July 2026.
So which should you choose?
The table shows averages, but the right answer depends on what you weigh most. If your priority is among cost of living, tax burden, housing pressure, Romania likely edges it. If you care more about bureaucracy, healthcare, public transport, Poland may suit you better. Your income, family, documents and the specific city matter as much as the country, which is exactly what the MoveMap check weighs up.
Romania or Poland? See which fits you
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