Ukrainian Expat Diana Shares Her Impressions of Life in Romania
Diana, a Ukrainian from Kharkiv who has been living in Bucharest for over a year, recently opened up about her experience in Romania. While she once considered Ukrainian and Georgian cuisines among the best in the world, she was pleasantly surprised by Romanian food. 'It’s heavy, yes, that’s true. But it’s so delicious! The ingredients here are top-notch,' she shared. Beyond the food, she highlighted a range of benefits that made her stay comfortable, including a high level of safety, excellent English proficiency among locals, mild winters, clean streets, affordable supermarket prices, and generous restaurant portions.
However, Diana pointed out one major downside: the scorching summer heat. 'The most unexpected drawback of Bucharest, something we never anticipated, is that summer here is hellishly hot—absolutely hellish. You feel like a sausage on a frying pan,' she remarked. In contrast, she noted that winters in Romania are much warmer than in Ukraine, adding, 'If you don’t mind some precipitation, winter here is generally far milder than back home.'
Diana, who runs a YouTube channel documenting her life in Romania, also debunked common stereotypes about the Roma population. 'Yes, they are here, but I wouldn’t say there are more of them than anywhere else. That’s actually a very unfair stereotype,' she explained. She pointed out that Bulgaria has a significantly larger Roma community compared to Romania.
Language Skills and Bucharest’s Climate
Regarding language, Diana praised the high level of English spoken in Romania but still recommended learning Romanian. 'English is really widely spoken here, at a high level,' she emphasized. She also touched on the city’s cleanliness, which pleasantly surprised her, and noted that supermarket prices are reasonable—comparable to those in Kyiv and even Kharkiv in some cases. 'I wouldn’t say prices in supermarkets are high. Honestly, someone might disagree, but I’d compare them to Kyiv’s, and in some spots, they’re even similar to Kharkiv’s,' she said.
Romania has become a popular destination for Ukrainians since the war began, even though the country did not allocate funds for Ukrainian refugees in 2024. Diana continues to share her experiences, hoping her stories will help other Ukrainians considering a move abroad. Her account illustrates how Ukrainians are adapting to new environments amid modern challenges, with Romania—due to its proximity to Ukraine—serving as a crucial safe haven for many. The affordability and positive aspects she describes could be valuable for those weighing emigration options.