Where I Can Live
Flag of Romania

Europe · Romanian · updated 2026-10

Moving to Romania: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $1,300 a month to live in Bucharest, and a family of four about $2,850, including rent. Romania usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 8 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Digital nomad visa.

Monthly budget
$1,300
Very low cost
Safety
66
Safe
Stability
52
Moderate
Family
54
Good
Main city
Bucharest
Language
Romanian
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Romania?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
Open the interactive index →

Cost of living in Romania, per month in US$

One person
$1,300
Family of four
$2,850
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Bucharest centre
$550
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$1,000
Estimate
Price level
49
US = 100
Income per person
$1,683
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
66
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.11
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.21
Rule of law+0.30
Control of corruption0.00
Government effectiveness+0.37
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Moderate overall (52/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
54
Good
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.584
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
7.3
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
76.5 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$1,051
per person / year
Education spending
3.3%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Digital nomad visa€3,700/month gross over the previous 6 months.
Job offer
Work permitEmployer-sponsored, within annual quotas.

Who gets easier access to Romania

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

Flag of AustriaAustriaFlag of BelgiumBelgiumFlag of BulgariaBulgariaFlag of CroatiaCroatiaFlag of CyprusCyprusFlag of the Czech RepublicCzech RepublicFlag of DenmarkDenmarkFlag of EstoniaEstoniaFlag of FinlandFinlandFlag of FranceFranceFlag of GermanyGermanyFlag of GreeceGreeceFlag of HungaryHungaryFlag of IcelandIcelandFlag of IrelandIrelandFlag of ItalyItalyFlag of LatviaLatviaFlag of LiechtensteinLiechtensteinFlag of LithuaniaLithuaniaFlag of LuxembourgLuxembourgFlag of MaltaMaltaFlag of the NetherlandsNetherlandsFlag of NorwayNorwayFlag of PolandPolandFlag of PortugalPortugalFlag of SlovakiaSlovakiaFlag of SloveniaSloveniaFlag of SpainSpainFlag of SwedenSwedenFlag of SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: igi.mai.gov.ro/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Romania?

About $1,300 a month for one person and $2,850 for a family of four in Bucharest, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $550 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,000. Prices are 49% of US levels. Romania is the 22nd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Romania safe to live in?

Romania scores 66/100 for safety (safe), ranking 44th of 76. The homicide rate is 1.11 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Romania politically stable?

Romania scores 52/100 for stability (moderate), ranking 53rd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Romania good for families?

Romania scores 54/100 for family-friendliness (good), ranking 51st of 76. Life expectancy is 76.5 years and under-5 mortality is 7.3 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Romania?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Romania?

Usually 8 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Romania without a job offer?

Yes. Digital nomad visa: €3,700/month gross over the previous 6 months.

Does Romania have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Digital nomad visa. €3,700/month gross over the previous 6 months.

Who can live and work in Romania without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

Similar countries in Europe

See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Romania can move