Posts this week in multiple locations in Romania and Slovakia. All popular locations for EFL teachers, but the numbers between the two countries tell two quite different stories once you look closely.
The salaries
🇷🇴
Romania
lei4,474 – lei6,462 / mo
£774–£1,118 / $1,034–$1,494 / €900–€1,300
Average: lei5,156 (£892 / $1,192 / €1,037)
🇸🇰
Slovakia
€1,667 – €2,700 / mo
£1,433–£2,322 / $1,915–$3,102
Average: €2,238 (£1,924 / $2,571 / €2,238)
Take-home pay
| |
🇷🇴 Romania |
🇸🇰 Slovakia |
| Gross average salary |
lei5,156 (£892 / $1,192 / €1,037) |
€2,238 (£1,924 / $2,571 / €2,238) |
| Est. effective tax rate |
10% |
19% |
| Est. net take-home |
lei4,640 (£803 / $1,073 / €934) |
€1,812 (£1,559 / $2,082 / €1,813) |
Tax rates are simplified estimates for a typical foreign teacher's salary bracket, not precise calculations — actual tax owed depends on progressive brackets, tax treaties, residency status, social insurance contributions, and local practice. Treat as a rough planning figure, not tax advice.
Cost of living
Typical monthly costs — single person, modest lifestyle (local currency, GBP / USD / EUR)
Rent — 1-bed city-centre apartment
🇷🇴
lei2,329 (£403 / $538 / €469)
🇸🇰
€416 (£358 / $478 / €416)
Food & groceries
🇷🇴
lei1,075 (£186 / $248 / €216)
🇸🇰
€166 (£143 / $191 / €166)
Local transport
🇷🇴
lei92 (£16 / $21 / €19)
Going out & socialising
🇷🇴
lei671 (£116 / $155 / €135)
🇸🇰
€109 (£94 / $126 / €109)
Estimated monthly total
🇷🇴
lei4,168 (£721 / $963 / €839)
🇸🇰
€708 (£609 / $814 / €708)
Slovakia is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Romania, based on typical rent, food and transport costs.
Cost-of-living figures are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available sources including Numbeo, Mercer Cost of Living, and the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey, and are not sourced from TEFL.com listings.
Monthly savings potential
| |
🇷🇴 Romania |
🇸🇰 Slovakia |
| Est. net monthly salary |
lei4,640 (£803 / $1,073 / €934) |
€1,812 (£1,559 / $2,082 / €1,813) |
| Est. monthly living costs |
lei4,168 (£721 / $963 / €839) |
€708 (£609 / $814 / €708) |
| Est. monthly savings |
lei473 (£82 / $109 / €95) |
€1,104 (£950 / $1,269 / €1,104) |
Estimated net salary minus estimated total monthly living costs (rent, food, transport and socialising combined). A negative figure suggests that role/location may need savings brought from home or a lower-cost lifestyle than assumed here — treat as a rough guide, not a budget.
Benefits breakdown
| |
🇷🇴 Romania |
🇸🇰 Slovakia |
| 🤝Ongoing support |
33% |
50% |
| ⚕Health insurance |
67% |
0% |
| 💰Bonus plan |
0% |
50% |
| 🏠Accommodation |
33% |
0% |
| 💕Airport pick-up |
33% |
0% |
| 🏖Holiday pay |
33% |
0% |
| 🎓Professional development |
33% |
0% |
Each percentage is the share of Romania's (or Slovakia's) included teaching posts whose listing mentioned the benefit. A missing benefit isn't necessarily unavailable, just not stated in that listing.
The verdict
🇷🇴Romania
Romania offers low cost european living. The average teaching salary works out to around lei5,156 (£892 / $1,192 / €1,037)/mo across recent job listings. Salaries here are more tightly clustered than in Slovakia, making typical earnings fairly predictable. Living costs here tend to run higher than in Slovakia, so factor that into the real take-home value.
🇸🇰Slovakia
Slovakia is known for affordable central european base. The average teaching salary works out to around €2,238 (£1,924 / $2,571)/mo across recent job listings. Salaries here span a notably wider range than Romania, from entry-level roles up to the top end of the market. Day-to-day living costs are also roughly 20% lower than in Romania, stretching that salary further.
From Romania to Slovakia, every market has its own trade-offs between salary, cost of living and lifestyle. The right move is the one that fits what you're after right now.
Browse Romania and Slovakia jobs at TEFL.com →
