If you’ve spent any time in Romania, you might have noticed something peculiar: many locals find it hard to believe when someone claims they have a high salary.
This reaction stems from more than mere curiosity. It ties into broader cultural and historical themes – including the lingering air of resignation we touched on in the previous post, Romania’s Culture of Resignation. While Romanians appreciate successful people, talking openly about making a lot of money can trigger doubt or even suspicion, especially if you’re an expat or ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI).
For reference, the average white collar Romanian born in the mid 1990’s will earn about $400,000 USD in their life (before tax, adjusted for normal inflation). Even if you’re a lower-middle-class American earning $50,000 USD per year, you’re effectively in the 1% of Romanian earners. If you earn, say, $400,000 USD every year, which is very possible if you own a business or are an experienced executive, you are the 1% of the 1% (maybe of the 1%…). In terms of earnings and purchasing authority, this would be the American equivalent of earning about $3.2M per year in New York City.
For the sake of writing something a bit more casual, I’ll share some insights on navigating money conversations with Romanian friends and acquaintances, and why a well-placed “white lie” about your background could help you blend in more smoothly.
Why the Skepticism?
Many locals, convinced that real prosperity is elusive in their homeland, still find it surprising or improbable that someone, especially an outsider, could achieve a considerable level of success in Romania. If you happen to be an expat or a person with ultra-high net worth, you might notice immediate skepticism when you talk openly about your income. Your openness may simply reflect where you come from, but in a place where full disclosure about money is uncommon, candid talk about earnings can trigger doubts and stir up questions about motives, connections, and even the legality of one’s gains.
These days, most Romanians still earn comparatively low incomes, so someone saying they make several times the national average can be hard for them to accept at face value. There’s also a longstanding culture of wariness in discussing personal finances, born from both the communist era’s distrust of wealth and the post-1989 corruption scandals that made people cautious about exactly who can “make it big” and why.
Compared to where I grew up, in the United States, talking about real wealth in Romania is almost taboo. Comparatively, the US has more so a culture of discovery and inspiration; Americans see more successful folks as a source of inspiration rather than a source of jealousy or grief.
So… what should you say?
Although honesty is generally the best policy, many foreigners in Romania discover that strategically downplaying certain details can make social interactions much smoother. Admitting you’re “just comfortable” rather than diving into exact numbers, for instance, helps avoid the seemingly endless questions that arise when you confess a much higher income than most people are used to hearing.
Equally useful can be telling a small white lie about how long you’ve been around or portraying yourself as a temporary contractor rather than an entrenched employee. This may feel like bending the truth, but it speaks to a broader cultural backdrop where discussing salaries in depth still raises eyebrows. By giving the impression that you’re just “passing through,” you lower the stakes and often disarm the skepticism directed at high-earning newcomers.
Some expats also find it beneficial to be vague about their employer or even what type of company they run, since dropping a big corporate name – or revealing you own an enterprise – may prompt prying or even uncomfortable responses. Instead, saying you work for a small, local business can help sidestep any insinuations about lavish paychecks. It places you within a framework that most Romanians readily understand, and it takes some pressure off both parties in the conversation.
Moreover, if you try to pass yourself off as just a tourist, you’ll likely invite a barrage of repetitive questions about local hotspots, how long you’re staying, and whether you’ve visited a dozen nearby attractions yet. While these questions are harmless, they can derail more meaningful dialogues if you’re trying to form genuine connections or conduct serious business. In the end, a low-profile approach that shows cultural awareness often proves far more effective than jumping straight into big-salary talk or ambiguous claims about why you’re really here.
Maintaining a Low Profile
It’s also useful in acknowledging the nuances of conspicuous consumption in Romania. On one hand, many people here enjoy flaunting recognizable status symbols – whether that’s a branded handbag or a luxury car. Keeping up appearances can be important, so openly displaying signs of wealth aligns with local expectations of how a high-earning individual should present themselves.
Ironically, this makes it easier to keep a low profile if you simply dress modestly and don’t show off expensive items. Many Romanians won’t think to question it if you say you’re not particularly well-off, because their image of wealth often involves visible symbols of success.
Conversely, if you adopt the understated jeans-and-t-shirt style common among multimillionaires in North America, local acquaintances may look at you with skepticism if you claim ultra-high-net-worth status. These contrasting perspectives on how “wealthy people” look can work to your advantage in steering conversations away from awkward questions about your finances.
I’ll be exploring this topic in more detail in a forthcoming academic paper that examines Romania’s relationship with conspicuous consumption, but for now, it helps to remember that the way you dress and present yourself can significantly shape how your income is perceived – and believed – by the people around you.