Safety Index
#26
of 124 cities
71.5/100
Current value
#80 of 124
Europe
Bucharest
Romania
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Bucharest compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Bucharest is 53% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Bucharest compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$29,783
-$143K (-83%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 40%
Community Insights
NewBucharest 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.
Rankings
Top 21%
Cost of Living
#28
of 124 cities
33/100
Current value (lower is better)
Home Affordability
#58
of 124 cities
≈8 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Bucharest compared to San Francisco?
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.
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