Bucharest is four times richer than Vaslui. Romania moves up one place in the European ranking of purchasing power, but the internal gaps are huge

The purchasing power of Romanians increased in 2025, but the differences between regions remain among the largest in Europe. According to the “NIQ GfK – Purchasing Power Europe 2025” study, published on Tuesday, Romania moves up one place in the continental ranking, in position 31 out of 42 countries, with an average purchasing power of 11,105 euros per capita, equivalent to 55% of the European average.

Bucharest is four times richer than Vaslui

However, the national average hides dramatic contrasts. Bucharest residents have 22,676 euros per year for expenses and savings – 4.2 times more than those in Vaslui, where the purchasing power is only 5,379 euros per inhabitant.

The capital thus remains an “island of prosperity”, with a standard of living comparable to that of the south of Poland or the west of the Czech Republic, while the counties in the east and south of the country continue to face incomes well below the European average.

The differences between counties narrowed slightly in 2025, according to the study, but the gaps remain far above those observed in most states in the region. In the top ten richest counties, after Bucharest, there are Cluj, Timiș, Ilfov, Brașov, Sibiu, Argeș, Constanța, Prahova and Arad.

At the opposite pole, Vaslui, Botoșani, Teleorman, Mehedinți and Călărași remain the areas with the lowest consumption potential.

Romania – increasing purchasing power, but we are below our neighbors

With a level of 11,105 euros/inhabitant, Romania lags behind Poland (14,156 euros) and the Czech Republic (15,928 euros), but is gradually approaching Bulgaria, which in 2015 was half of the Romanian level.

Compared to Western countries, the gap remains significant: a German has a purchasing power of 29,566 euros, and a Dane of 33,211 euros.

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However, Romania is among the countries with the fastest percentage increases in disposable income in recent years, on the back of wage increases and increased income from services and IT.

What “prosperity” actually feels like

The nominal increase in purchasing power does not necessarily mean a real improvement in the standard of living. Persistent inflation in recent years, especially in food and energy, has eroded a significant portion of additional income.

“Although the figures show more money on paper, the perception of the population is that money does not go further. The real purchasing power depends on the evolution of prices, not only on wages,” NIQ experts point out.

Romania in a European context

In 2025, the European average purchasing power reached 20,291 euros, up 4% compared to the previous year. The countries with the highest incomes remain Liechtenstein (71,130 euros), Switzerland (53,011 euros) and Luxembourg (38,929 euros).

Between the first and the last place – Ukraine (2,946 euros) – the difference is 24 times. Ten years ago, the ratio was 66 to 1, a sign that the countries of Eastern Europe, including Romania, are slowly but steadily reducing the distance from the West.

A country divided in two: urban versus rural

The study confirms a reality already visible in the economy: Romania is developing at two speeds.

In the big cities and peri-urban areas, average salaries exceeded 1,500 euros net, and the standard of living is close to that of southern Europe.

In rural areas and mono-industrial counties, available incomes remain below 600-700 euros per month, and the share of basic expenses (food, energy, housing) exceeds 70% of the family budget.

Conclusion

Romania is making slow but visible progress in purchasing power. The rise to 31st place shows an economy approaching the European average, but internal gaps – between Bucharest and the rest of the country – continue to be the biggest structural vulnerability.

Without sustained investment in education, infrastructure and well-paying jobs outside the major urban centers, “convergence” risks remaining just a statistic.