😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,359 in Barcelona versus $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,498 in Barcelona versus $1,798 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Barcelona versus $2,544 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 124% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.86
$13.58RON 61.8
26.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1€58.9
$68.0RON 309
0.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.64€11.82
$8.26RON 37.56
65.13%
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.41
$3.28RON 14.89
-15.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.44
$2.33RON 10.58
21.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.70
$2.30RON 10.43
-14.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.43€3.84
$3.48RON 15.80
27.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.99
$4.03RON 18.30
14.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.10
$1.78RON 8.09
-28.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.85
$1.38RON 6.27
54.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$1.89RON 8.60
5.29%
Eggs
$3.37€2.92
$3.49RON 15.85
-3.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.96€16.42
$9.67RON 43.95
96.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53€8.26
$6.95RON 31.58
37.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.73€16.22
$12.38RON 56.3
51.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.29
$1.40RON 6.36
89.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.04
$1.79RON 8.14
31.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.81
$1.76RON 7.98
18.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.37
$2.50RON 11.38
9.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96€1.70
$1.00RON 4.56
96.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$1.01RON 4.61
79.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51€1.31
$0.94RON 4.29
60.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$0.94RON 4.29
-5.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.87
$6.30RON 28.64
7.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92€6.86
$8.22RON 37.35
-3.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.22RON 5.57
12.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.08
$1.95RON 8.88
23.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.91€2.52
$0.67RON 3.04
334.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.66€24.82
$19.93RON 90.6
43.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.96
$0.67RON 3.04
583.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.77
$0.66RON 2.99
209.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.72€24.87
$6.90RON 31.35
316.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82€1.58
$1.70RON 7.72
7.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€34.0K
$29.0KRON 131.8K
35.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K€28.1K
$30.5KRON 138.9K
6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€162
$181RON 822
3.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.29€19.30
$8.76RON 39.82
154.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.37€31.50
$11.48RON 52.2
216.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5€49.82
$41.21RON 187
39.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.74€17.96
$18.90RON 85.9
9.74%
Cinema Ticket
$10.77€9.33
$9.32RON 42.36
15.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$725€628
$659RON 2,998
9.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.1K
$14.3KRON 65.1K
5.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.9€76.1
$79.3RON 360
10.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.81€31.88
$45.38RON 206
-18.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€89.6
$89.4RON 407
15.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€103
$110RON 499
8.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,524€1,319
$395RON 1,794
286.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227€1,062
$186RON 846
559.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,727€2,362
$599RON 2,722
355.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,984€1,718
$440RON 2,002
350.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,469€6,468
$1,980RON 9,003
277.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243€4,541
$1,343RON 6,107
290.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,393€2,072
$937RON 4,260
155.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.1
-52.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,524 in Barcelona and $395 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 155% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $238, with Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barcelona vs Drobeta-Turnu Severin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($2,359 vs $1,053 including rent). Drobeta-Turnu Severin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Average pay runs 155% higher in Barcelona, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,524 in Barcelona versus $395 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Childcare runs $725 in Barcelona versus $659 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,359 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drobeta-Turnu Severin but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Drobeta-Turnu Severin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Barcelona or Drobeta-Turnu Severin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Expats usually find Drobeta-Turnu Severin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 124% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.