Best Places for Expats to Live in Romania
Romania is the perfect destination for expats who love history and want to experience Europe with a lower cost of living. Romania features architecture from the Medieval, renaissance, and other time periods. Its fast, reliable internet is perfect for digital nomads and remote workers.
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Are you looking for the best place to live in Europe? Consider Romania, with its lower cost of living and ties to legends like Count Dracula.
In this article, we’ll list the eleven best places for expats and Romania and a few things you should know about healthcare in the country.
11 Best Places for Expats to Live in Romania
Romania is a magical place for expats to live and explore in Romania. Depending on your priorities, there are many great cities for expats and digital nomads. Romania offers fast, reliable internet for digital nomads and a lower cost of living than most of the European Union.
You won’t want to miss the majestic Carpathian Mountains or the legendary forest of Transylvania in Romania. While most of Romania has traffic congestion problems, you’ll be enchanted by the medieval architecture and fascinating history of the area.
If you decide that Romania isn’t the place for you, don’t hesitate to explore options in Bulgaria or Lithuania.
Brasov
Brasov is the best city for expats who want access to nature in Romania. It’s seated right next to the Carpathian mountain range with opportunities for hiking and exploring. It’s also a pretty clean city with the best winter-sport adventures available.
Brasov has the benefit of being pretty close to the capital city. Due to the tourist attractions, it also has English speakers.
Don’t Miss
While in Brasov, you won’t want to miss the famous Bran Castle, also known as Count Dracula’s Castle. It’s set in the gorgeous surroundings of Transylvania. It was built in 1388, and filled with history and character.
You will also want to see Peles Castle, about an hour south of the city. The castle has neo-Renaissance architecture and a museum within. The surrounding area offers summer hikes and winter skiing.
Drawbacks to Consider
Brasov doesn’t have many green areas within the city. It also has a problem with traffic. Expats hoping for nightlife will need to travel to the capital city.
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca is another great city for expats because of the number of English speakers. It’s an excellent place for business, studies, and culture. The city’s administration is better than many other cities in Romania.
Cluj-Napoca is home to ten different universities and the Transylvania Film Festival. The young population makes Cluj-Napoca a pretty welcoming place for foreigners.
Don’t Miss
Cluj-Napoca is home to one of the most stunning botanical gardens, the Gradina Botanica. It has extensive paths and features Japanese-inspired architecture and gardening.
Drawbacks to Consider
Cluj-Napoca, like the capital city, has a traffic problem. The city has very few green spaces but is more affordable than many European cities.
Constanta
Constanta is a seaside treasure. It’s perfect for expats who want beaches and warm summers. It has some fabulous public transportation. Constanta also offers arguably the best seafood in Romania and the famous Neversea festival.
Don’t Miss
Mamaia is a charming seaside resort. At Mamaia, you can find windsurfing lessons and beautiful beaches.
Drawbacks to Consider
Constanta can get crowded during the summer months. It’s also not very clean, and it lacks access to quality healthcare. Constanta can be a more expensive place to live during the summer months.
Timisoara
Timisoara was named a 2023 Capital of Culture in Europe, so it’s no wonder it’s a great place for expats who want art galleries, museums, and other experiences near their homes. Due to some of the highest internet speeds in Europe, Timisoara is a wonderful place for digital nomads.
The city is pedestrian-friendly and offers widely available free Wi-Fi. There are also a lot of English speakers in the city. It’s truly a haven for remote workers.
Don’t Miss
You’ll want to visit places like Liberty Square and the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Timisoara. The cathedral has a stunning design right out of history.
Drawbacks to Consider
Timisoara is not a clean city, it has traffic problems, and the cost of living is low, but so are the wages when employed locally.
Bucharest
Bucharest, nicknamed “Little Paris,” is the capital city of Romania and is a great place for expats since there are English speakers in the city and a relatively low cost of living. Digital Nomads will be satisfied with the internet speeds in the city.
As the bustling capital of Romania, Bucharest offers a wealth of cultural experiences, restaurants, and shops.
Don’t Miss
While in Bucharest, make sure you see the Romanian Athenaeum. It’s a famous concert hall with a gorgeous domed roof and unique architecture. It also houses the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra and its festival.
Drawbacks to Consider
Bucharest is not considered a clean city. In fact, it’s known to be a little dirty and very polluted. You’ll also experience a lot of traffic congestion. Ensure you have a plan to access medical care in nearby countries since Bucharest is not known for its medical infrastructure.
Iasi
Iasi is the perfect place for expats who want a city with a rich history because Iasi was named the Historical Capital of Romania. Iasi is a clean, safe city with one of the highest qualities of life.
Don’t Miss
You’ll want to take a trip to Probota Monastery, also known as one of the painted monasteries. It’s only an hour and a half from Iasi by car. The monasteries feature outdoor murals from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Drawbacks to Consider
It isn’t as convenient to access other cities from Iasi, but it still suffers from traffic congestion.
Oradea
Oradea is on the Art Nouveau European Route, so it’s the perfect place for expats who want to see art across Europe. It is one of the safest cities in Romania, and it has plenty of English speakers.
Compared to the rest of Europe, Oradea has a lower cost of living.
Don’t Miss
In Oradea, you’ll find the Oradea Fortress. It’s a magnificent star-shaped building that’s been reconstructed and contains the city’s history.
Stop by the Black Eagle Palace, a shopping gallery in Oradea. It’s one of the best representations of Secession-style architecture. It features breathtaking stained glass windows and an elaborate spire with a clock tower.
Drawbacks to Consider
Oradea doesn’t have good drinking water, so residents must plan around that. It’s also not a very clean city.
Bacau
Bacau is a little further off the tourist track in Romania. It’s perfect for expats seeking a quieter experience in a less polluted city. It has more parks than many other cities on the list and features Gothic-style architecture.
Don’t Miss
While in Bacau, see a performance at the Teatrul Municipal Bacovia. The theater was founded in 1948 and is one of the most prestigious theaters in Romania.
It’s also close to many of the painted monasteries in the region, so be sure to explore those when you have the chance.
Drawbacks to Consider
Bacau has a smaller expat community than many of the other cities. Since it isn’t a big tourist destination, you may also find fewer English speakers.
Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a little gem in the heart of Transylvania. For expats, it’s well-connected to other cities. Recently the infrastructure was updated to make the city more tourist-friendly and equip it with modern amenities. It also has a relatively low cost of living.
Don’t Miss
Corvin Castle, or Hunyadi Castle, is only a one-hour drive from Alba Iulia. It’s the largest medieval castle in Transylvania and one of the largest castles in all of Europe. Legends suggest Vlad the Impaler was imprisoned here.
Drawbacks to Consider
Alba Iulia doesn’t have as many English speakers as the capital or Cluj-Napoca. The local community is also less receptive to outsiders.
Tagru Mures
Tagru Mures has a reputation for its flower gardens. It’s a little oasis in Romania for expats who want safety and good air quality. There’s still enough English in the city to get by, and it has a low cost of living.
Don’t Miss
The Zoo Tigru Mures should be added to your destination list. It’s a zoo with wide open spaces and a varied collection of animals.
Drawbacks to Consider
Tagru Mures lacks education opportunities and healthcare resources. It also suffers from traffic problems and low-quality roads.
Sibiu
Sibiu is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, so it has plenty of outdoor adventures awaiting expats. The mountains make for a picturesque horizon surrounding the city. It’s also brimming with medieval architecture and friendly locals. Sibiu is pedestrian-friendly.
Don’t Miss
While in Sibiu, walk across the Bridge of Lies, see the Large Square, and visit the 13th Century Council Tower.
Drawbacks to Consider
Sibiu shares the traffic problems of other cities on our list and has limited nightlife experiences. Some travel bloggers also report Sibiu feels less safe than other cities on the list.
Finding Healthcare in Romania
Make sure you’re covered for your expatriate experiences by getting one of the best international health insurance plans with coverage in Europe.
Even though Romania has poor healthcare, having a plan that covers private Romanian clinics, care in other countries, and medical evacuation can keep you covered while you enjoy living there.
Conclusion
Romania is a place from stories. You won’t want to pass up the lower cost of living and tours of medieval castles as an expat. The internet in Romania is perfect for digital nomads ready to live abroad and explore the world.
If you want to consider more places to live in Europe as an expat, check out this guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Medicaid and Medicare cover me in Romania?
Medicaid and Medicare only offer coverage within the United States and its territories. You will need private travel insurance for coverage abroad, including Romania.
Does Romania have good medical care?
Romania doesn’t offer the same quality of care that you’ll find in other regions of the European Union. Rural areas of Romania, especially, have too few doctors. People with private insurance can be seen at private hospitals and clinics, which offer better care.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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