😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,476 in Barcelona versus $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,545 in Barcelona versus $1,536 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,613 in Barcelona versus $2,155 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Barcelona is roughly 170% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 81% above, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.74€16.31
$8.98RON 41.13
108.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€60.5
$43.79RON 201
58.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.77€11.98
$7.86RON 36.01
75.19%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.43RON 15.73
-9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.47
$2.24RON 10.24
26.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$1.93RON 8.85
-2.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98€3.47
$3.39RON 15.54
17.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.94
$4.04RON 18.52
12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.11
$1.47RON 6.73
-13.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.88
$1.20RON 5.48
80.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.53
$1.45RON 6.66
21.38%
Eggs
$5.13€4.46
$3.55RON 16.26
44.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.88€15.56
$8.05RON 36.86
122.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.65€8.40
$6.42RON 29.43
50.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.15€17.54
$8.42RON 38.59
139.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25€2.83
$1.23RON 5.63
164.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.94
$1.57RON 7.21
42.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.26
$1.56RON 7.17
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.40
$2.76RON 12.65
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.21€1.92
$0.74RON 3.40
198.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.84
$0.65RON 2.97
226.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.35
$1.03RON 4.72
50.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95€0.83
$0.92RON 4.22
3.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.34€6.39
$6.14RON 28.13
19.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05€7.00
$7.63RON 34.97
5.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.34
$0.98RON 4.50
57.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79€2.43
$1.46RON 6.68
91.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11€2.70
$0.80RON 3.66
288.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.86€22.51
$22.85RON 105
13.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27€2.85
$1.02RON 4.68
220.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$0.86RON 3.96
72.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.27€29.83
$8.68RON 39.77
294.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73€1.50
$1.85RON 8.46
-6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K€31.7K
$29.6KRON 135.4K
23.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$26.0KRON 118.9K
17.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€163
$123RON 563
52.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.14€13.18
$9.54RON 43.69
58.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69€32.80
$12.80RON 58.6
194.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.9€48.69
$40.00RON 183
39.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.08€14.87
$21.18RON 97.0
-19.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.41€9.93
$7.17RON 32.83
59.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$997€867
$462RON 2,119
115.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.4K
$6,941RON 31.8K
138.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.6€80.6
$77.5RON 355
19.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22€35.88
$33.15RON 152
24.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111€96.8
$89.8RON 412
23.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€109
$92.4RON 423
35.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,707€1,486
$402RON 1,843
324.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286€1,119
$179RON 818
620.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,565€2,233
$640RON 2,930
301.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,942€1,690
$472RON 2,161
311.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,647€6,656
$1,920RON 8,798
298.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,167€4,497
$1,385RON 6,347
272.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,348€2,044
$971RON 4,449
141.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.16
7.02
-54.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: September 13, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,707 in Barcelona and $402 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰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.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Barcelona vs $44.00 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $206 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 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Barcelona and Drobeta-Turnu Severin differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($2,476 vs $918 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 142% 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: $1,707 in Barcelona versus $402 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 $997 in Barcelona versus $462 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 63% 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 $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,476 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 170% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.