Move to Romania
Everything a future Romania settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Romania at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
5 years
to permanent residency
8 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires B1-level Romanian language proficiency and tests on Romanian history, geography, culture, and constitution (Law 14/2025).
Where to land in Romania
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$668
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$20,072
GDP per capita
16%
Corporate tax
5.5%
Unemployment
5.8%
Inflation
Low inequality — the wealth gap won't slap you in the face daily.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
5.99/10
⚠️ Hybrid regime
82
/100Freedom House score
#38 of 163
Global Peace Index
#55
Press freedom rank
Is Romania safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Safe enough to stop thinking about it. Standard urban awareness applies.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Romanian
Primary language
High
English proficiency (#12 globally)
Most people speak decent English. You can survive without Romanian, but your landlord will respect you more if you try.
❓ Moving to Romania — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Romania?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bucharest ranks #1 in Romania with a score of 79/100. City-centre rent starts around $668/month.
How much does it cost to live in Romania?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $668 to $668/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $1,310.
How do I get permanent residency in Romania?▾
The path to permanent residency in Romania typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 8 years. Note: Requires B1-level Romanian language proficiency and tests on Romanian history, geography, culture, and constitution (Law 14/2025).
Is Romania a democracy?▾
Romania scores 5.99/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Hybrid regime." It ranks #38 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Romania safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Romania is 1.3 per 100,000 people. That's within the normal range for developed countries.