Short answer: Nearshore software development in Romania costs about €450 per day for a senior engineer, with dedicated teams from €7,000 per month. The strongest skills are mobile (native and cross-platform), backend (Python, Node.js, .NET, Java, PHP), AI integration and cloud. Contracts run under EU law with IP assigned to the client.
Rates
| Engagement | Published price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Senior engineer, day rate | €450 / day | Short, specific gaps in an existing team |
| Dedicated team, per month | from €7,000 / month | 3–12 month builds that need continuity |
| Bounded first slice | from €9,500 | Proving the partner on one real deliverable |
Where Romanian talent is strongest
- Mobile: Swift, Kotlin, React Native, Flutter.
- Backend: Python, Node.js, C#/.NET, Java, PHP, Go.
- AI integration: LLM features, retrieval, agents, evaluation.
- Cloud and DevOps: AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform.
Contracts and IP
- Master services agreement plus statements of work.
- IP assigned to the client on payment.
- GDPR data-processing agreement where personal data is involved.
- Short notice periods on monthly engagements.
Nearshore vs offshore
| Romania (nearshore) | Distant offshore | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlap with CET | Full day | 1–3 hours |
| Legal framework | EU | Varies |
| Communication cost | Low | High |
| Headline rate | Medium | Low |
| Total cost of delivery | Often lower | Often higher than quoted |
Related: nearshore Romania guide, hire Romanian developers.
Next step
Related services: staff augmentation, nearshore development centre, nearshore outsourcing and engagement models. Case studies: CodCheck, Foi Parcurs Online and an AI voice agent for a hospitality group.
Not sure what team you need? Try the nearshore team planner. Or see the published pricing, the nearshore lean approach and live work, or send a short brief — we reply within one working day with a team shape and a price.
Frequently asked
What is the day rate for a senior developer in Romania?
Through Symphony Apps, €450 per day for a senior engineer. Market rates vary by stack and seniority; ask any provider for the named person's CV with the rate.
Is Romania nearshore or offshore?
For European companies, nearshore — same continent, one-hour time difference. For US companies it is often called offshore, but the overlap and EU legal framework behave more like nearshore.