Ploiesti, Calarasi, and capital Bucharest are perceived as the three cities with the lowest air quality in Romania, according to a study compiled by real estate classifieds website Storia.ro.

The study, conducted in collaboration with research agency D&D Research, analyzed the citizens' perception on air quality in the cities and neighborhoods they live in.

The top ten cities with poor air quality continues with Focsani, Galati, Slatina, Resita, Bacau, Satu Mare, and Braila.

On the other hand, the Romanian cities with the best air quality are Brasov, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfantu Gheorghe, Ramnicu Valcea, Piatra-Neamt, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Pitesti, Slobozia, and Botosani.

In terms of historical regions, 40,000 Romanians selected Transylvania as the region with the best air quality, being followed by Maramures, Oltenia, Crisana, and Moldova. Next in the ranking were Dobrogea, Muntenia, Banat, and Bucharest-Ilfov.

When it comes to the neighborhoods with the best air quality, Racadau and Noua in Brasov, and Valea Aurie in Sibiu are the top three neighborhoods. They are followed by Grigorescu in Cluj-Napoca, Avantgarden in Brasov, Simeria in Sfantu Gheorghe, Gruia in Cluj-Napoca, Baia de Fier-Horezu in Ramnicu Valcea, and Zorilor and Andrei Muresanu in Cluj-Napoca.

In Bucharest, the neighborhoods with the best air quality are Nordului, Televiziune, Clucerului, Iancu Nicolae, and Soseaua Nordului, while the ones with the lowest air quality are mainly the ones located in downtown Bucharest, namely Magheru, Piata Operei, Centura Est, the Old Town, and Lizeanu.

Another study by Storia.ro revealed at the end of March that Oradea, a city in western Romania, is perceived as the local city with the best medical facilities.

Moreover, a previous study showed that Oradea, Brasov, and Cluj-Napoca are the safest cities in Romania.

Big cities in Transylvania have the best perceived cost of living in Romania

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com