Quality of life in Romania looks better in statistics than in real life

According to reports, Romanians still earn less than half the EU average. Although they have the biggest advance in salary increases in a year, they are still far from the living standards in Western countries. This increases the number of Romanian that are no longer getting enough money from one salary to the next.

According to the latest Eurostat data, the average annual salary of Romanians in 2023 was around €17,700. The statistics also show that, from 2022 to the end of 2023, Romanians had among the fastest salary increases, outpacing the average increase in EU countries of 6.5%.

Romanians earn on average almost 14% more than last year. In absolute figures, this means that in the last year, the average net salary has increased by more than 600 lei (aprox 120 euros). This means that at the end of the month a Romanian is earning more than 5,200 lei (approx 1040 euros). As of January 1, 2025, the gross minimum wage will be 4,050 lei means about 810 euros (from 3,700 lei as it is now, meaning 740euros). But this will not bring out a better living.

This year, Romanians have been the European Union's champion in terms of prices, as it is the country where prices are also rising faster than in any other EU country.
SHOTLIST
VS People walking in the street

CU Lady counting banknotes

CU Banknotes handling

CU Money counting machine

VS Vegetable at the market

VOXPOP (Romanian) PARTLY COVERED, man with black outfit: "If you look at what we pay for food and utilities, it's not... I mean, wages have gone up, but inflation's eaten them up."

VOXPOP (Romanian) lady sitting on a bench in the park: "Most money goes on food. We budget for everything and try not to go over."

VOXPOP (Romanian) man with cap and eye glasses: "It's normal with inflation, even if the statistics say it's somewhere around 5%, it's actually higher. The shopping cart has almost doubled in price."

CU Man placing a bottle of wine back on the supermarket's shelf

Old man shopping in the supermarket

VS People shopping in the supermarket

CU Young couple paying

VS People in the street

LEFT TO RIGHT CAMERA Old city center

VS People in the street

CU Young girl with headphones

VS Details of people walking in the street (feet)​

Ladies walking

Group of tourists

VS Parents and children walking in the street