Thinking about moving to Romania? This overview pulls together how it compares across the things that shape daily life: cost, language, safety, healthcare and the route to staying long term. In MoveMap’s model, Romania stands out for an affordable cost of living, an easier housing market and a lighter tax burden, while it is worth weighing a weaker healthcare score, a less open social climate and patchier public transport.
Romania at a glance
Tap any metric to see what is behind the number.
Cost of living42/100
Cost of living here sits well below the EU average, one of the more affordable places to live. As rough monthly figures, a typical net salary is around €1000 and a one-bedroom rent runs about €500 a month. Your real budget depends heavily on the city and your lifestyle.
English60/100
English works in tourist and business settings, but daily life, services and paperwork usually need the local language.
Safety75/100
This is a MoveMap score out of 100 (higher is safer), so 75/100 means safe: everyday crime is low and the main cities feel comfortable, including at night, with normal precautions.
Healthcare58/100
Scored 58/100 in MoveMap's model (higher is better). Public healthcare covers the basics but can mean waiting lists; private insurance is common among expats.
ClimateCold
Cold winters and warm summers, with four distinct seasons. Typical daytime highs: winter around 3°C, spring 17°C, summer 29°C, autumn 16°C. Figures are approximate and vary by region.
Citizenship~8 yrs
On the ordinary residence route you can usually apply for permanent residence after about 5 years, and for citizenship after about 8 years of continuous legal residence. Marriage to a citizen or ancestry can be much faster. Most countries also require a language test (commonly around B1) and some restrict holding two passports, so confirm Romania's current rules and dual-citizenship stance.
Taxes10% flat
Personal income tax: Flat 10%. As a freelancer: Flat 10% on real or norm income (PFA). Company owners: CIT 16%; micro-company regime 1%/3% of turnover (criteria tightened repeatedly), dividends 16% (raised from 10% in 2026). Rates as of July 2026. Tax rules change every budget cycle and depend on your personal situation: verify with a licensed tax advisor before acting.
Where Romania stands out
Relative to the other 26 EU countries, Romania scores best for:
- An affordable cost of living.
- An easier housing market.
- A lighter tax burden.
Worth weighing before you move
Every country has trade-offs. For Romania, keep an eye on:
- A weaker healthcare score.
- A less open social climate.
- Patchier public transport.
Is Romania right for you?
These are general patterns. Whether Romania actually fits depends on your income, work, family, documents and what you want from a move, and the right city matters as much as the country. The quickest way to see where Romania lands for your situation is the MoveMap check.