Although it remains the largest and richest city in the country, Bucharest is no longer the first option for Romanians who want to move to another city. A recent study on urban attractiveness places Brașov first in the preferences of the population, ahead of important urban centers such as Cluj-Napoca, Constanța and Timișoara.
The research, carried out by the Institute for Visionary Cities, analyzed the Romanians’ perception of the quality of life in the big cities, taking into account criteria such as employment opportunities, access to medical services, urban mobility, cultural offer and leisure opportunities.
According to the Urban Attractiveness Index, Brașov obtained the highest score on a scale from 1 to 10, being considered the city that offers the best balance between comfort, opportunities and quality of life.
The city at the foot of Tâmpei continues to attract both residents from other areas of the country, as well as Romanians settled abroad who are thinking about a possible return home.
Elena Drăgan, who has been living in Spain for 11 years, says that if she were to return to Romania, Brașov would be her choice without hesitation.
However, locals admit that the city is not without its shortcomings. Miruna, who has been living in Brașov for about a year, appreciates the atmosphere and daytime offer, but believes that the nightlife is less developed.
“The city is very beautiful. The daily life is ok, there are so many terraces, but there is not much nightlife in Brașov”says this for stirileprotv.ro.
On the second place in the ranking is Cluj-Napoca, one of the most dynamic economic and university centers in Romania.
The surprise of the ranking is Constanța, which climbed three positions compared to last year and reached the podium, together with Timișoara.
Many of those who choose Constanța cite the proximity to the sea and the numerous relaxation options.
“I think the sea side is an advantage for us, with the beach, with the terraces. You have somewhere to go out, you’re never bored”said a resident of the city.
According to Felix Tătaru, the criteria that influence the choice of a city have changed significantly in recent years.
“It confirms to us that vibration remains the most important thing, namely leisure, sport, movement, culture. These are essential things for people”he explained.
However, the residents of Constanța draw attention to the fact that the local administration and the state of the infrastructure are still sensitive points.
“Unfortunately, we don’t really have housekeepers and it shows at every step. We like Constanța, we love Constanța and we tolerate it as it is”, said a local.
Small towns are gaining ground
The ranking also reveals the rise of smaller municipalities, which manage to compete with large urban centers through lower costs and a high level of comfort.
An example is Alba Iulia, which ranks ninth, although it has just over 70,000 inhabitants.
Residents say tranquility and lower living costs are the main advantages.
“It’s a much quieter city, calmer than the rest of the surrounding cities and probably the housing costs are lower too”explained a resident.
The authors of the study claim that the success of smaller cities is explained by the favorable ratio between living costs and quality of life, a criterion that weighs more and more in Romanians’ decisions regarding where they choose to live.
