πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,341 in Barcelona versus $1,093 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,462 in Barcelona versus $1,789 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,582 in Barcelona versus $2,485 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
πLiving in Barcelona is roughly 114% more expensive than Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 75% above, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 18% below.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.61β¬15.08
$13.97RONΒ 60.9
26.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7β¬58.8
$68.4RONΒ 298
0.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.75β¬11.77
$7.91RONΒ 34.49
73.83%
Cappuccino
$2.76β¬2.36
$3.43RONΒ 14.94
-19.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78β¬2.38
$2.26RONΒ 9.85
23.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05β¬1.75
$2.30RONΒ 10.01
-10.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61β¬3.94
$3.50RONΒ 15.24
31.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59β¬3.93
$4.01RONΒ 17.47
14.46%
π Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28β¬1.10
$1.72RONΒ 7.52
-25.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11β¬1.81
$1.37RONΒ 5.96
54.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.86RONΒ 8.11
5.91%
Eggs
$3.44β¬2.95
$3.63RONΒ 15.82
-5.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.83β¬16.12
$9.74RONΒ 42.47
93.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.45β¬8.09
$6.84RONΒ 29.83
38.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.01β¬16.27
$12.08RONΒ 52.7
57.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72β¬2.33
$1.36RONΒ 5.94
100.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37β¬2.03
$1.77RONΒ 7.71
33.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08β¬1.78
$1.83RONΒ 7.99
13.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76β¬2.36
$2.50RONΒ 10.92
10.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97β¬1.69
$1.00RONΒ 4.34
97.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79β¬1.53
$0.96RONΒ 4.17
86.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51β¬1.29
$1.00RONΒ 4.36
51.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90β¬0.77
$0.89RONΒ 3.87
1.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.76β¬5.79
$6.64RONΒ 28.95
1.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55β¬6.46
$7.98RONΒ 34.79
-5.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44β¬1.23
$1.22RONΒ 5.32
18.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41β¬2.06
$2.00RONΒ 8.73
20.50%
π Getting Around
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.03β¬2.59
$0.71RONΒ 3.10
326.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.39β¬24.30
$19.65RONΒ 85.7
44.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43β¬3.79
$0.72RONΒ 3.13
515.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05β¬1.76
$0.66RONΒ 2.86
210.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33β¬25.11
$6.85RONΒ 29.88
328.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89β¬1.62
$1.65RONΒ 7.20
14.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7Kβ¬33.2K
$29.1KRONΒ 127.0K
33.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4Kβ¬27.7K
$30.6KRONΒ 133.5K
5.70%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189β¬161
$183RONΒ 796
3.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21β¬19.01
$8.96RONΒ 39.07
147.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.82β¬31.52
$11.06RONΒ 48.22
232.91%
π Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0β¬49.64
$42.24RONΒ 184
37.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.99β¬17.97
$19.49RONΒ 85.0
7.70%
Cinema Ticket
$11.05β¬9.46
$8.98RONΒ 39.16
23.05%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$726β¬622
$658RONΒ 2,870
10.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2Kβ¬13.0K
$14.3KRONΒ 62.4K
6.34%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3β¬75.6
$80.9RONΒ 353
9.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.98β¬31.66
$45.23RONΒ 197
-18.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103β¬87.8
$88.9RONΒ 387
15.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119β¬102
$110RONΒ 480
8.32%
π Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,526β¬1,307
$382RONΒ 1,665
299.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218β¬1,043
$183RONΒ 798
565.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,794β¬2,392
$578RONΒ 2,519
383.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,027β¬1,735
$445RONΒ 1,941
355.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,094β¬6,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,849β¬4,151
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,404β¬2,058
$994RONΒ 4,334
141.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
7.1
-52.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,526 in Barcelona and $382 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Barcelona pays 142% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $68.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $235 per month, with Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper across the board.
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 Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($2,341 vs $1,093 including rent). Drobeta-Turnu Severin is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Barcelona pays 142% more on average, 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 Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,526 in Barcelona versus $382 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 $726 in Barcelona versus $658 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 36% 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 $1,093 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,341 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 β 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 β expenses run 114% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.