Bucharest – Expat City Guide
Romania’s capital and largest city. Home to most expats and international businesses.
Quick Facts
- Population: ~2 million (metro: 2.5M)
- Expat population: ~50,000+
- Average rent (2-bed): 500-1000 EUR
- Average salary: 1,500-2,500 EUR net
- Airport: Henri Coandă (OTP) – 20km north
Best Neighborhoods for Expats
Premium
- Herăstrău/Aviatorilor – Parks, international schools, embassies. Best for families.
- Dorobanți/Floreasca – Upscale, quiet, great restaurants. Young professionals.
- Primăverii – Villas, diplomatic area. Executives.
Mid-Range Popular
- Pipera – New builds, IT companies, malls. Tech workers.
- Universitate/Unirii – Central, nightlife, culture. Young expats.
- Cotroceni – Bohemian, cafes, botanical garden. Creatives.
Budget-Friendly
- Tineretului – Great park, good metro, residential.
- Drumul Taberei – Family area, new metro line.
- Titan – Improving, affordable, IOR park.
Getting Around
Metro
- 5 lines (M1-M5), expanding
- Single trip: 3 RON | 10 trips: 20 RON | Monthly: 70 RON
- Runs 5:00-23:30
Buses/Trams
- Extensive network
- Same tickets as metro (STB card)
- Download: STB app
Ride-sharing
- Bolt – Most popular, cheapest
- Uber – Available
- Taxi – Use apps (Star Taxi) or reputable companies (Meridian, Speed)
International Schools
- American International School – US curriculum
- British School of Bucharest – UK curriculum
- International School of Bucharest – IB
- Lycée Français Anna de Noailles – French
- Deutsche Schule Bukarest – German
Expat Hangouts
Restaurants & Cafes
- Origo – Best coffee
- Shift Pub – Expat favorite
- The Harp – Irish pub
- Fabrica – Creative hub
- Cărturești Carusel – Beautiful bookstore cafe
Networking
- Expats in Romania meetups – Weekly/biweekly
- InterNations – Monthly events
- Bucharest Business Networking – Professional
Healthcare
- MedLife Floreasca – Full service
- Regina Maria Băneasa – Premium
- Sanador Hospital – Private hospital
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most job opportunities | Traffic congestion |
| Best nightlife/culture | Air pollution |
| International community | Higher prices |
| Best infrastructure | Can feel overwhelming |
| Direct flights to major cities | Hot summers |
