English Teacher Salary in Romania 2026
Salaries are modest. Costs are low. The balance requires supplementary income for most teachers. Romania is a lifestyle and experience destination — not a savings one. Here is the complete honest financial picture.
Romania’s salary reality: modest pay, very low costs
The TEFL Org’s assessment is the most honest single-sentence summary: most teachers will find it hard to live on a single full-time language school salary without supplementary income. Entry-level language school positions pay €500–800/month — barely above living costs in Bucharest (where a shared room in a shared flat costs €250–400/month and food adds another €200–280). Better language school positions with packages (accommodation included, airfare, health insurance) effectively increase the real value to €900–1,200/month in total compensation. International schools at €1,200–1,800 are comfortably liveable in any Romanian city.
The supplementary income reality: most language school teachers in Romania add 2–6 hours of private tutoring per week (€10–20/hour; totalling €80–480/month) to reach comfortable living. Online teaching (Preply, italki) from Romania is also common — Romania has some of Europe’s fastest internet infrastructure, making it one of the most practical countries in this guide for combining in-person and online teaching income.
The purchasing power context: Romania functions economically like a mid-income EU country but is priced closer to a peripheral one. Bucharest’s costs are significantly lower than Warsaw, Prague, or Budapest. A monthly metro pass costs approximately €15. Taxis run at €0.70/km. A meal at a local restaurant costs €4–8. For teachers who live locally — cooking Romanian food from local markets, using public transport, avoiding expat-priced services — the cost of living is remarkably manageable.
Salary by job type
| Position | Salary (monthly) | Typical benefits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language school (entry) | €500–700/mo | Varies; sometimes housing | Tight; needs supplementing |
| Language school (better package) | €800–1,000/mo | Housing + health sometimes included | Manageable with discipline |
| Packaged positions (live listings) | €800–1,400 + housing + flights | Furnished accommodation; health insurance; airfare | Good value in total compensation |
| International school | €1,200–1,800/mo | Full benefits; experience required | Comfortable; best in Romania |
| British Council Bucharest | Competitive (CELTA + 2yr exp. required) | Full package | Prestigious; highly competitive |
| Private tutoring (supplement) | 50–100 RON/hr (~€10–20/hr) | None; cash typically | Essential supplement for most |
| Online teaching (from Romania) | $10–20/hr (Preply, italki, etc.) | Self-employed; excellent internet helps | Good supplement; Romania’s fast internet advantage |
| Volunteer/Angloville | Accommodation + meals | Full board + excursions | Entry point; no financial save |
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Cost of living in Romania 2026
Bucharest monthly (shared flat)
Romanian price context
- Local restaurant meal: €4–8
- Pizza (takeaway): €5–9
- Beer (local Ursus/Ciuc, bar): €1.50–2.50
- Metro single ticket: €0.50
- Metro monthly pass: ~€15
- Bolt/Uber (5km): €3–5
- Cinema ticket: €5–7
- Internet (home, fast): ~€10/mo
- Private health insurance: €50–100/mo
- Train Bucharest–Brașov (2.5hr): €8–15
Sample monthly budgets
Ready to teach English abroad?
Romania — medieval castles in the Carpathians, one of the EU’s most affordable capitals, and a TEFL market that asks for less and gives back a great deal. TEFL Heaven places teachers across Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America — browse our full program range to find your best fit.
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