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Bucharest
#80 of 124
Europe

Bucharest

Romania

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Bucharest compare to Osaka?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Bucharest is 21% worse off vs in Osaka

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Bucharest compared to Osaka, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$49,639
-$4K (-8%) vs Osaka
Based on 341 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$29,783
-$8K (-21%) vs Osaka
Tax Rate: 40%

Community Insights

New

Bucharest presents a high-reward, high-friction proposition for software engineers. It offers a strategic financial advantage—net incomes go much further here than in London or Berlin due to the #28 Cost of Living rank. However, this comes at the cost of environmental quality and infrastructure frustrations. The city is safe and alive with energy, but the daily grind of traffic and pollution wears on many. The recent capping of the famous IT tax exemption has dampened the "tax haven" enthusiasm, but the city remains a powerhouse for outsourcing and development in Eastern Europe.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is currently mixed and cautious. Long-time expat residents appreciate the safety and affordability, often noting they can afford a lifestyle here that would be impossible back home. However, the local engineering community is currently pessimistic about the recent tax hikes on the IT sector, viewing them as a "death blow" to the industry's former perks. There is a palpable sense that the "golden age" of tax-free IT work is ending, but the lifestyle benefits keep many from leaving.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Osaka.

Rankings

Safety Index

Top 21%

#26

of 124 cities

71.5/100

Current value

Cost of Living

Top 23%

#28

of 124 cities

33/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#57

of 124 cities

≈8.1 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Bucharest compared to Osaka?

Avg. Property Price
$3,024 / m²
27% cheaper than Osaka
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Bucharest to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
0% more expensive than Osaka
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Bucharest

Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Adobe logo
Adobe
Luxoft logo
Luxoft

The Good

  • High Purchasing Power: Despite recent inflation, the cost of living remains significantly lower than Western Europe, allowing engineers to save a large portion of their income (Housing Affordability Rank #55).
  • Vibrant Tech Scene: Bucharest is a major regional hub with many multinational offices and startups, offering good career mobility.
  • World-Class Internet: consistently cited as having some of the fastest and cheapest broadband speeds in the world, ideal for remote work.
  • Active Social Life: The city is described as "modern" and "vibrant" with excellent nightlife, cafes, and restaurants.
  • Safety: generally felt to be very safe regarding violent crime (Safety Index #26), which is a major relief for expats coming from more dangerous global cities.
  • Public Transport Coverage: The metro system is reliable and crucial for avoiding surface traffic; living near a station is a top recommendation.

The Bad

  • Traffic Congestion: Universally hated by residents; described as a "pain in the ass" and a major stressor if you rely on a car.
  • Air Pollution: A significant drawback, with Bucharest ranking poorly for air quality (#107 Pollution Index); residents frequently complain about dust and smog.
  • Tax Instability: Recent government changes capping the popular IT income tax exemption (previously 0% on income tax) have caused frustration and uncertainty among local engineers.
  • Noise Pollution: Complaints about thin walls in older apartment blocks and general city noise are common.
  • Healthcare Quality: Public healthcare is often viewed as subpar compared to Western standards, leading many to rely on private insurance.
  • Bureaucracy: Administrative processes can be slow, archaic, and frustrating for foreigners to navigate.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Young, single engineers or career-focused transplants looking to maximize their savings rate without sacrificing big-city amenities. It is ideal for those who value nightlife, eat-out culture, and fast internet over quiet, pristine streets. If you can secure a remote job or a high-ranking local position and live near a metro station, you will thrive.

Skip it if...

People with respiratory issues (due to high pollution) or those seeking a quiet, family-oriented suburban lifestyle with high-trust public services. If you are easily stressed by chaotic traffic, noise, or unpredictable government policies, Bucharest’s chaotic energy may be overwhelming rather than exciting.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather4.1/10-7% vs Osaka
Safety72+7%
Pollution75+55%
Events0
4.1/10TechCities weather score vs 4.4/10 in Osaka

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
16°C(vs 20°C in Osaka)
Average Low
7°C(vs 13°C in Osaka)
Sunshine Hours
2,115h/yr+105h/yr(+5%)
Hottest Month High
29°C(vs 32°C in Osaka)
Coldest Month Low
-4°C(vs 2°C in Osaka)
Rainy Days
57/yr-60/yr(-51%)

Community & Quality

Bucharest community pulse

Bucharest has 0 Luma events listed.

Osaka has no listed Luma events for comparison.

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#67

of 124 cities

41/100 weather score

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#80

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Purchasing Power

Middle of the pack

#80

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 24%

#95

of 124 cities

$29,783/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 15%

#107

of 124 cities

75.4/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Bottom 11%

#111

of 124 cities

40%

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
8.1 years
0.7 years quicker than Osaka
Muggy Days
14/yr-73/yr(-84%)
Cloud Cover
43%(vs 45% in Osaka)