Compare countries · Poland vs Romania
Poland vs Romania
Poland(Europe)·
Romania(Europe)
Across 13 comparable indicators: Poland leads on 8, Romania on 3, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Poland cheaper than Romania?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Poland at 47.3 and Romania at 40.6. Romania is about 14% cheaper overall.
Is Poland or Romania safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Poland scores 1.61 and Romania scores 1.79. Poland ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Poland or Romania?
On the UN Human Development Index, Poland scores 0.906 and Romania scores 0.845. Poland scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Poland compared to Romania?
GNI per capita runs $25,520 in Poland against $20,190 in Romania; people live 78.4 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)
Poland
47.3
Worse than 60% of countries
Romania
40.6
Around the global middle
Romania: 14% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Poland
18.4
Worse than 66% of countries
Romania
12.0
Better than 64% of countries
Romania: 35% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Poland
1.61
Better than 87% of countries
Romania
1.79
Better than 73% of countries
Poland: more peaceful (1.61 vs 1.79).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Poland
71.3
Better than 81% of countries
Romania
67.2
Better than 76% of countries
Poland: higher perceived safety (71.3 vs 67.2).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Poland
0.906
Better than 82% of countries
Romania
0.845
Better than 71% of countries
Poland: higher human development (0.906 vs 0.845).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Poland
$54,262
Better than 79% of countries
Romania
$50,895
Better than 76% of countries
Poland: 7% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Poland
78.4 yrs
Better than 74% of countries
Romania
76.5 yrs
Better than 61% of countries
Poland: 1.9 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Poland
57.9
Worse than 70% of countries
Romania
56.5
Worse than 76% of countries
Poland: better-rated healthcare (57.9 vs 56.5).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Poland
218 Mbps
Better than 83% of countries
Romania
273 Mbps
Better than 91% of countries
Romania: 26% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Poland
76/100
Better than 85% of countries
Romania
68/100
Better than 72% of countries
Poland: freer press (76 vs 68 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Poland
6.77
Better than 84% of countries
Romania
6.63
Better than 77% of countries
Poland: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.77 vs 6.63).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Poland
600
Better than 82% of countries
Romania
605
Better than 85% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Poland
75.7
Worse than 61% of countries
Romania
76.3
Worse than 59% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Deciding between Poland 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 Poland profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Romania profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.