Since 1 January 2025 Romania has been a full Schengen member, including the end of land border checks.
According to Eurostat, Romania's price level in 2025 was about 65% of the EU average, the second lowest.
In the March 1977 earthquake more than 1,400 people died in Bucharest. Check the year built and the standard, and prefer new construction.
The TomTom index ranks Bucharest again and again among Europe's most congested cities. Pick the area by your daily route.
EU and Schengen, prices, internet, closeness to Israel and a green north, versus traffic, seismic risk, bureaucracy, rising costs and climate.
Is Bucharest a good place to live?
Living in Bucharest means a capital city of an EU and Schengen member, with prices below Western Europe, some of the fastest internet in the world and a short flight to Israel. On the other hand, it is one of Europe's most congested cities, it lies in a seismic zone, and the bureaucracy takes patience. For a family that plans the neighbourhood, the school and the type of building properly, the pros win in most cases.
I live and work in Romania, and this is exactly the conversation I have with every family considering a move. Not a sales pitch, but an honest list in both columns.
Five pros of living in Bucharest
1. Full Europe: the EU and Schengen
Romania is a member of the EU and NATO, and since 1 January 2025 it has been a full member of the Schengen area, including the end of land border checks. From Bucharest you travel to the rest of Europe without border controls.
2. Prices below Western Europe
According to Eurostat, Romania's household consumption price level in 2025 was about 65% of the EU average, the second lowest. The full numbers, from rent to transport, are in our guide to the cost of living in Bucharest.
3. Some of the fastest internet in the world
Romania has ranked near the top worldwide for fixed broadband speed for years, according to Ookla's Speedtest Global Index. For remote workers, that is not a minor detail.
4. Close to Israel, and to the rest of the world
Henri Coandă Airport (Otopeni) has direct flights to Tel Aviv, about two and a half hours, in the same time zone for most of the year. If you live in the north of the city, you are minutes from the airport. Our project in Balotești, for example, is about ten minutes away.
5. Green, family-friendly, with good schools
North Bucharest is built around parks and lakes, and that is also where the international schools are. In the northern suburbs, families get a house with a garden within driving distance of the city.
Five cons of living in Bucharest
1. Traffic
This is the con everyone discovers in the first week. The TomTom Traffic Index ranks Bucharest again and again among Europe's most congested cities. The answer is not to suffer, but to pick the neighbourhood by your daily route: school, work and airport.
2. Earthquake risk
Bucharest lies in an area affected by earthquakes originating in the Vrancea zone. In the March 1977 earthquake, more than 1,400 people were killed in Bucharest alone. The city keeps a list of buildings at high seismic risk, most of them old, and the National Institute for Earth Physics (INFP) monitors activity. In practice: check the year of construction and the building standard, and prefer new construction.
3. Bureaucracy
Paperwork, queues, translated documents and physical signatures. Notarial signing in Romania cannot be done remotely (a power of attorney is possible), and residence procedures take time. A good local lawyer saves months here.
The difference between a good experience and a bad one is almost always the choice of neighbourhood.
4. Rising prices
VAT rose to 21% in August 2025, the electricity price cap ended in July 2025, and in May 2026 the metro became about 40% more expensive. Bucharest is still cheaper than Western Europe, but anyone planning on prices from five years ago will be surprised.
5. A fairly extreme climate
Hot, dry summers and cold winters with snow. If you come from the Mediterranean, you need to get used to a real winter, and to a home with good heating and insulation. Details in our guide to Bucharest's weather and seasons.
The table: pros and cons at a glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Full EU and Schengen membership | Some of Europe's worst traffic |
| Prices about 65% of the EU average | A seismic zone |
| Some of the world's fastest internet | Bureaucracy and physical signatures |
| A short flight to Israel | VAT, electricity and transport costs rose |
| A green north with international schools | Cold winters and hot summers |
Who Bucharest suits, and who it suits less
Bucharest suits families who work remotely or in tech, people who want a house with a garden at a reasonable European price, and anyone who needs to stay close to Israel. It suits less those not willing to plan their daily route around traffic, or anyone looking for a seaside city.
The difference between a good experience and a bad one is almost always the choice of neighbourhood. The full map is in our guide to the best neighbourhoods in Bucharest, and personal safety is covered in is Bucharest safe?.
Three mistakes people make when moving to Bucharest
- Choosing a flat before a school. Families who sign a lease and only then look for a school often find themselves facing an hour's drive each way. The right order is the reverse.
- Judging the city by a weekend. On a Saturday morning the roads are empty; on a Tuesday at 8 a.m. the picture is completely different. Visit for at least a week, and drive your route at rush hour.
- Ignoring the building. In Bucharest the year of construction is not a technical detail. An old building in the centre can be charming, but before signing, check whether it is on the seismic risk list and ask an engineer for an opinion.
Most of Bucharest's drawbacks are not eliminated but managed, through the right choices made in advance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest advantage of living in Bucharest?
The combination: a European capital in the EU and Schengen, with prices at about 65% of the EU average according to Eurostat, very fast internet and a short flight to Israel.
What is the biggest disadvantage of living in Bucharest?
Traffic. The TomTom index ranks Bucharest among Europe's most congested cities, so choose a neighbourhood based on your daily route to school and work.
Are earthquakes a reason not to live in Bucharest?
It is a risk to manage, not to ignore. The city keeps a list of high-risk buildings, most of them old. Choosing new construction and checking the year built and the building standard reduce exposure.
How long is the flight from Bucharest to Israel?
About two and a half hours on a direct flight from Otopeni Airport, in the north of the city.
Do you need Romanian to live in Bucharest?
Not at first. In the city, especially in the north and among younger people, English is widespread. For bureaucracy and documents, work with a lawyer or translator.
The bottom line
Bucharest is neither paradise nor a nightmare. It is a European capital with clear advantages and manageable drawbacks, provided you plan: a neighbourhood that fits your route, a new building, and the school before the house.
If you are considering living in Bucharest, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through both columns together and see which points matter for your family.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: European Union, Schengen · Eurostat, price levels 2025 · Ookla Speedtest Global Index · TomTom Traffic Index · National Institute for Earth Physics (INFP)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, engineering or financial advice. Before buying or renting, have a professional check the building's structural condition.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
