More and more Romanians, among those who went to achieve financial success abroad, seriously think about returning home, but sometimes they don't because they fear that they won't be able to get an income that would allow them to live without worries in Romania . If for some a few thousand lei represents a good income, others believe that it is impossible to live decently in Romania.
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A Romanian who is tempted to leave Spain for Romania asked on social networks what income he should have in the country for a decent living.
“I've been living here for eight years and I think it's time to go back home. There were years when I worked hard with my wife, the children grew up, and life in Spain is getting harder and harder. It was never a paradise here, but it seems since the socialists are in power and they put the saddle on the people it is getting harder for the common Spaniard. High prices, high taxes, inflation. But the wife is afraid that it will be even more difficult in Romania, although every time I came home and went to the shops I saw that it is more expensive here than in Spain. How much money would we need for a decent living in the country?”, he asked.
In Romania “they live decently” vs “it's poor poverty”
The answers were diverse. While some told him that he could live decently in Romania and gave several amounts as an example, others recommended him to stay in Spain. Finally, some reminded him that Spain is also a poor country, as the Eurostat statistics actually show.
“I was in Spain only as a tourist, but I also went into supermarkets and saw that, just like in Italy, they have cheaper food than in Romania. Salaries are clearly higher in Spain than here, so no matter how you take it, I don't think it's a good idea to return home. In short, even food is more expensive than in Spain and Italy, think about it“someone told him.
“Of course, Romania is more expensive than Spain, and here everything is unpredictable. Here all the parties are pursuing their interest, and in our times whether PSD, PNL or USR or AUR will emerge, they are all one and the same, some demagogues who don't care about people at all. It's poverty Lucie, I think you know it well. Of course, Spain is not a rich country either, but still… another added.
Someone else said that in Romania you can live decently with 700-800 euros, with one condition.
“In Romania, you can still live reasonably if you have a 700-800 euro salary, but with one condition. It should not be in Bucharest, Cluj, Brașov or other big cities where prices are high. And not paying rent, owning it. If you have a home here, it's worth coming back”was another opinion.
Someone else chimed in: “The Spanish have higher salaries and lower prices, but think about how much you pay for rent there and that you are far from your loved ones. So it depends on what you choose: to be at home, with your loved ones, or to live among strangers. At home you'll probably earn less, the food will cost you more, but I'd say it's worth it.”
How much money would a Romanian need?
There were other cases of Romanians, including some who returned home for several years.
“We've been back home for three years, it's no worse than in Spain. In Spain we get 2,000 euros in construction, here I get 2,500 euros. I work just as hard, I earn even better here, so for me it was an advantage,” another netizen confessed.
“In Romania you can manage anywhere and with 5,000 lei if you don't have big expenses and if you have a place to live. Of course you won't live like a prince, but there is no great nobility in Spain either“, was another opinion.
“There is as much poverty in Spain as in Romania. Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain are among the poorest countries. If you are not lazy and willing to work, you will make a reasonable living here“, another told him.
“If you live in a town in the south of Spain, somewhere by the sea, it's an experience. If you live in a dirty and overpopulated city like Madrid or Barcelona, it doesn't seem worth it. But it depends a lot on where you live and in the country. That if you live in a poor locality in Moldova where there are no jobs or they are very poorly paid, you will not manage”was another message.
What do the official figures say?
Romanians are the most exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion in the European Union, according to Eurostat data. Practically, the Romanians would be poorer than the Bulgarians. Among the EU member states, the highest share of people exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion was recorded in 2022 in Romania (34.4%), Bulgaria (32.2%), Greece and Spain (both with 26%) . On the other hand, the lowest shares were recorded in the Czech Republic (11.8%), Slovenia (13%) and Poland (16%).
On the other hand, the Romanians would be the worst paid per hour of work in the European Union, after the Bulgarians. The average hourly cost in the EU was 31.80 euros in 2023, while in Romania it was 11 euros per hour. Bulgaria, with a labor cost of 9.30 euros per hour, and Romania, with 11 euros per hour, are the cinderellas of the European Union.
Labor costs in the European Union rose by 5.3% last year, but the member countries of Eastern Europe recorded higher rates of growth than the European average, according to a study published by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, reports DPA .
Labor costs represent the total expenses incurred by employers for employees. These costs include compensation to an employee in the form of wages and social security contributions, recruitment and training expenses, and payroll taxes.
