Compare countries · Bulgaria vs Romania
Bulgaria vs Romania
Bulgaria(Europe)·
Romania(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Bulgaria leads on 4, Romania on 6, 3 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Bulgaria cheaper than Romania?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Bulgaria at 41.6 and Romania at 40.6. Romania is about 2% cheaper overall.
Is Bulgaria or Romania safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Bulgaria scores 1.63 and Romania scores 1.79. Bulgaria ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Bulgaria or Romania?
On the UN Human Development Index, Bulgaria scores 0.845 and Romania scores 0.845. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Bulgaria compared to Romania?
GNI per capita runs $17,780 in Bulgaria against $20,190 in Romania; people live 75.8 years on average against 76.5; Numbeo users rate healthcare 58 against 57. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Bulgaria
41.6
Around the global middle
Romania
40.6
Around the global middle
Romania: 2% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Bulgaria
11.1
Better than 68% of countries
Romania
12.0
Better than 64% of countries
Bulgaria: 8% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Bulgaria
1.63
Better than 84% of countries
Romania
1.79
Better than 73% of countries
Bulgaria: more peaceful (1.63 vs 1.79).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Bulgaria
64.5
Better than 70% of countries
Romania
67.2
Better than 76% of countries
Romania: higher perceived safety (67.2 vs 64.5).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Bulgaria
0.845
Better than 71% of countries
Romania
0.845
Better than 71% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Bulgaria
$44,451
Better than 72% of countries
Romania
$50,895
Better than 76% of countries
Romania: 14% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Bulgaria
75.8 yrs
Better than 57% of countries
Romania
76.5 yrs
Better than 61% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Bulgaria
58.3
Worse than 67% of countries
Romania
56.5
Worse than 76% of countries
Bulgaria: better-rated healthcare (58.3 vs 56.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Bulgaria
94 Mbps
Around the global middle
Romania
273 Mbps
Better than 91% of countries
Romania: 191% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Bulgaria
60/100
Better than 60% of countries
Romania
68/100
Better than 72% of countries
Romania: freer press (68 vs 60 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Bulgaria
5.70
Worse than 58% of countries
Romania
6.63
Better than 77% of countries
Romania: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.63 vs 5.70).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Bulgaria
594
Better than 80% of countries
Romania
605
Better than 85% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Bulgaria
81.2
Around the global middle
Romania
76.3
Worse than 59% of countries
Bulgaria: more pleasant climate rating (81.2 vs 76.3).
Deciding between Bulgaria and Romania for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Bulgaria profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Romania profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.