What shapes a livable city? Subjective and objective determinants of city satisfaction in Romania

This article examines urban quality of life in 41 Romanian cities by combining survey evidence from the 2020 Urban Barometer ( N = 13,380) with a spatially detailed Quality of Life Index (QOLI) derived from OpenStreetMap and census data. Using hierarchical logistic regression, we assess how individual perceptions and city-level conditions shape city satisfaction. Results show that facilities and services, environmental quality, and governance contribute positively to satisfaction, while perceptions of trust and safety are among the strongest predictors. In contrast, the QOLI measuring the objective availability of amenities is negatively associated with satisfaction, indicating that infrastructure provision alone does not ensure well-being. City size is positively related to satisfaction, whereas economic indicators such as unemployment and aggregate turnover per population have little explanatory power. The study shows that urban well-being depends less on material provision and more on governance, trust, and residents' expectations, with implications for cities in Central and Eastern Europe where historical legacies and uneven development continue to shape urban experiences. • City satisfaction in Romania depends more on trust, safety, and governance than on amenities. • Objective availability of infrastructure (QOLI) is negatively linked with perceived well-being. • Larger cities show higher satisfaction, while economic indicators have little explanatory power. • Urban well-being arises from governance and expectations, not simply from material provision.