Getting top-notch medical treatment doesn’t always mean an empty bank account after visiting the doctor – at least not if you decide to get it in Romania.
The country still offers some of the lowest living costs and healthcare costs in the European Union. As a result, a side few people know about is actually flourishing: medical and dental tourism.
And it’s flourishing because you can get premium service at private clinics for a fraction of what you would pay in the US or Western Europe. And we’re talking about modern equipment, well-trained professionals and overall a perfect experience.
So let’s learn more about this, from costs to what procedures are more popular and everything in between, in case you are planning to visit Romania specifically for medical reasons.
What are the costs of private medical services in Romania?
While prices vary depending on the problems you need solved and the type of clinic you choose, they are surprisingly low even if you don’t have medical insurance.
Actually, you don’t really need one, because I recommend foreigners to choose a private clinic or hospital anyway.
To give you a clear picture of the current rates, here is a breakdown of average costs at top-tier private clinics in the country (if you’re interested in dental work, keep reading, as I will share those costs in a separate section):
| Medical Procedure | Price Range |
| Complete Specialist Exam | €50 – €80 (250 – 400 RON) |
| Basic Blood Work | €25 – €40 |
| Ultrasound | €50 – €80 |
| Lip Fillers (Hyaluronic Acid, 1ml) | €200 – €300 |
| Breast Augmentation | €3,000 – €5,500 |
There are, of course, all kinds of services offered. For example, my wife and I went the private clinic way for the birth of our son, and it was not only affordable but also a flawless experience. If you’re curious, check out my article about giving birth at a private clinic in Romania, where I share everything.
All in all, the quality is exceptional, and the private clinics look like five-star hotels. This is why most Romanians living abroad still come back home for medical investigations and treatment.
Just do your research before booking. Do not just pick the first sponsored ad on Google.
Instead, look for established networks like Regina Maria or MedLife, which are the two largest in the country (but there are plenty of other smaller, yet similarly good options in each city).
Generally, though, it’s safe to say that choosing a big name private clinic in one of the country’s largest cities should be the way to go (more on this a bit later).
Dental tourism in Romania
Dental tourism is the most popular type of medical tourism in the country, closely followed by that for cosmetic reasons.
Prices in private Dental practices are extremely low and the quality of the procedures is usually high. As a result, dentists are extremely popular for people coming from abroad.
Even in the small city that I live in – Drobeta Turnu Severin – I know Romanians coming back just to get their teeth done.
I have friends living in Germany, the UK, or France and they’re all coming here whenever they need some dental work done. Why pay 2-3 times more for the same level of quality?
Dental work & implants in Romania – What are the prices?
A couple of years ago, my wife had a couple of teeth replaced at a private clinic in Constanta. The price was 200 Euros (1,000 Lei) for two teeth.
She actually went to the nearest clinic to our apartment – one she didn’t know anything about – and was still extremely satisfied. So the chances of having a bad experience are low, especially if you choose one of the country’s larger cities.
This year, she decided to go for an implant for another tooth, and the entire procedure, from start to finish, was 800 Euros.
So it really depends on what needs to be done, but generally, prices between 100 and 800 Euros per implant can be considered valid today.
Other prices for those interested in dental tourism in Romania are:
- tooth extractions: €30 – €80 (molars are usually more expensive)
- Scaling / deep cleaning: around €50
- Fixing a cavity / filling: between €50-€70 per tooth
These prices surely beat the competition in other countries and, as I have already said, the quality of the procedures is really high! The materials used are the same as those found in premium Western practices.
One of my friends from the US was joking that it would be cheaper for him to come to Romania, get all his teeth replaced, stay at a 5-star hotel for 7 nights AND still end up paying A LOT less than he would in the US.
If you’re interesting of trying something like this, I have a list of the best Bucharest hotels close to the city center – this way, you can also explore the city a bit while here.
Another potential benefit for those looking to get their teeth done while in Romania is that, generally, doctors here will only use local anesthetics when doing their job, so you won’t be groggy after a visit.
Logistics & Language: Booking Your Treatment
A common worry foreigners have is a potential language barrier. While anything is possible, most Romanian doctors speak English and in the private medical sector, fluency in English is practically a hiring requirement.
Booking your appointments is also straightforward and easy and it can generally be done online.
The larger clinic networks have dedicated English-language portals on their websites, and you can select your specialist, view their credentials, and book your time slot as you see fit.
Major procedures require a bit more planning and an initial visit, though. If that’s what you are after, reach out to the clinic in person to coordinate lab times and specialist availability and plan everything ahead.
Best cities for medical tourism in Romania
While each city in Romania has its fair share of skilled specialists, I recommend sticking to the largest cities in the country, as they already have some sort of history with medical tourism and usually offer the best quality.
Bucharest is by far the best option as it can easily be reached by plane from anywhere in the world, and being Romania’s capital has the most to offer both in terms of quality and quantity.
But other large cities offer similar services as well.
Cluj Napoca, Brasov, Timisoara or Constanta can be very good destinations for those looking for affordable, yet high quality medical options.
During my research, I found that nearby countries like Hungary and Croatia run similar medical tourism campaigns. They get more attention simply because they have traditionally been larger tourist hotspots.
But they are also noticeably more expensive. I personally believe the Romanian medical sector matches them completely in quality while beating them on price.
Is Medical Tourism in Romania Right for You?
Traveling abroad for medical care is a big decision. But for anyone looking to fix a health issue or upgrade their smile at a reasonable price, Romania provides an incredible alternative to expensive local care.
Tens of thousands of people have done it over the past few years and they had no reasons to complain afterward. Do your research, pick a reputable private clinic in a major city, and enjoy the substantial savings.
And if you still have questions or comments, don’t hesitate to post them down below!
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.
Hi Calin:
I suspected this was the case.
Facelift and dental implants, here I come–ha, ha!
Maybe the influx will help bring back younger medicos, too.
Hope all is well with wife and son Romanian!
~Teil (USA)
Hello Teil,
I am not sure that this influx of patients is enough to give the economy a boost, but it sure helps! We’ll see how things go.
Yes, my Google News aggregator recently featured the article”This Philly couple traveled to Romania for cheaper dental work. Should you, too?” The couple had so much work dental work done, they rented an apartment for a whole month and still came in far lower in total cost than they would have paid in the USA. They raved about their experience, the quality of the dentists, the modern equipment and how much they saved. The Romanian dentist claimed they used top quality dental implants from Switzerland which could be maintained by any dentist anywhere in the world. It was such a glowing article, I smelled an “infomercial” (a sales commercial disguised as information), but I think the Philadelphia Inquirer is too serious a newspaper for that. The risk, of course, is that something might go wrong at some later point, and perhaps your American dentist will demand to redo everything. I am a little surprised that Germans, U.K. citizens and other West Europeans, who must all have national health care, would come to Romania just to save money. But it would be great if medical tourism could keep some of those doctors and dentists in Romania. I saw a documentary on retirement homes for West Europeans who were being placed in Polish assisted living facilities. Come to think of it, I saw a show about young people who couldn’t get into German medical schools and were going to a medical school in Hungary where all the classes were taught in German. Those are two more areas for Romania to branch out in!
Yes, there are always risks associated to doing this, especially when dental work is involved. I remember that back when we traveled to Turkey, our guide told us that it’s possible to make “minor” arrangements with doctors there to get some minor cosmetic surgery done – they would then file the procedure in such a way that it would be the insurance company that would pay for it. I’m not sure if that can be done in Romania or if that’s still the case in Turkey, but there will always be ways to game the system. So surely the German and Western European citizens who do this kind of work in Romania have something to gain out of this.
Stuart, the couple in that story (the wife at least) has been an online friend for a few years and it is a solidly true story. I totally cracked up when l read it as l was nodding. I had contemplated doing the same on our visit to Bucharest recently. We peeked in at a few dental offices and were impressed. My brother got several implants a couple of years ago after his stomach surgery and l was going to get dental work done too. Even if something goes wrong, it would still be cheaper to fly back than to do it in the U.S. I have friends who regularly go to Prague for their dental work and checkups too. When l still lived in the U.S and worked as a pharmacist, we had quite a few of insured patients whose insurance companies paid for their overseas surgeries and recovery which was still less than if done in the U.S. The dental work needed is 30 euro per cavity in Spain and that’s without insurance so we will be doing it there, otherwise we would gladly do a return trip to Bucharest since we really liked it :-).
Well, with an endorsement like that I just can’t go wrong in Romania! Thanks for the advice. I can’t wait to need some dental work…
Not a dental tourist, but I have a relatable story:
Recently, I had dental bridge work back in the US. Even with insurance, the total was well in excess of $3,000. Right after arriving in Brasov, however, I lost a crown on another tooth. Not knowing what to do, I literally crossed the street from my apartment to visit the dental office I had seen there. No recommendations regarding his prices or workmanship. Ends up, he’s been fantastic for both my wife and me. Honestly, he’s an artist… and speaks English! He sent me to a specialist for a high-tech x-ray/scan of all my teeth. This service cost me the equivalent of $10. It seems that the reason that I lost the crown was because the tooth under it had developed a pretty bad cavity and I came close to losing it. The dentist was sure, however, that he could save the tooth by performing a pretty extensive root canal, and did! Next to this tooth I had a gap where I lost a baby tooth only a few years ago. We decided it was appropriate to correct this with a bridge. Although he did offer a less extensive option, I chose having it done the best way for the long run. He prepped the tooth with the root canal and another tooth from which to suspend the bridge. He then made a cast, formed a temporary crown for the good tooth, and then sent away for the permanent bridge. I’ll be receiving this tomorrow. The cost for all of this is about $400. I’m ecstatic with both price and quality so far. BTW… did I mention he’s painless!!!
Happy to hear that the good experiences are still coming in here in Romania. You were a bit lucky to find such a good dentist without asking around, but I am happy you did. It proves that we still have some really qualified people here in Romania.
Could you tell me the name/adress of this dentist in Brasov? I need to go there and I need some dental work to be done
Tank you
Daniëlla
I visited a Dentist in Bucharest. The office was nice with modern equipment. The Dentist and attendant were English speakers. I actually had a good time which is rare at the Dentist for me. Interestingly enough it was called the German dentist probably to attract some of those German dental tourists
Many people in Romania consider anything related to / made in Germany very high quality, so that could be another explanation. Either way, I am happy to hear that you had a pleasant experience there.
One thing I can tell you about dental cleanings here…both times in the last few years they seemed to have rushed through the process and I was in and out in about 20 minutes..Not particularly low priced either..If I recall about $80 USD…I voiced my concerns on FB in an American expat group and a woman from another city in Romania had the same experience…She asked them “If it was enough time?” as they rushed her in. and out and like me they provided no receipt… From my experience Ukraine was much better…about 1/2 the price and they actually took about two hours to do a really good job..