Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Drobeta-Turnu Severin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Drobeta-Turnu Severin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,756 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,459 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 18% cheaper than Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Drobeta-Turnu Severin are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Drobeta-Turnu Severin 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$13.80 RON 62.4

-85.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$69.4 RON 314

-72.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$8.27 RON 37.40

-6.29%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.41 RON 15.43

-43.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.34 RON 10.58

-66.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$2.30 RON 10.38

-84.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$3.54 RON 16.00

-37.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.01 RON 18.13

-8.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.79 RON 8.09

-7.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.35 RON 6.12

20.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.83 RON 8.27

-34.97%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$3.67 RON 16.60

-45.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.46 RON 42.78

68.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.86 RON 31.05

-55.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$12.46 RON 56.4

-12.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$1.40 RON 6.32

97.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.70 RON 7.68

-30.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.81 RON 8.17

-9.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$2.42 RON 10.94

-37.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.00 RON 4.51

38.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$0.97 RON 4.40

22.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$0.97 RON 4.41

-27.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.88 RON 3.98

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$6.49 RON 29.36

-29.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$8.46 RON 38.27

95.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$1.26 RON 5.70

45.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$1.94 RON 8.78

64.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$0.67 RON 3.03

31.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$20.09 RON 90.9

-6.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$0.71 RON 3.21

91.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$0.65 RON 2.95

106.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.99 RON 31.62

12.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.73 RON 7.81

-28.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$28.8K RON 130.2K

-24.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$29.7K RON 134.3K

-24.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,298

$181 RON 820

-61.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 ฿445

$8.85 RON 40.02

54.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$11.28 RON 51.0

54.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$40.86 RON 185

1.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$19.20 RON 86.9

-63.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$9.34 RON 42.26

-38.22%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 ฿10.0K

$667 RON 3,019

-53.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$14.4K RON 65.2K

1.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$81.5 RON 369

-31.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$44.43 RON 201

-41.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$91.1 RON 412

-5.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$110 RON 497

-34.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$389 RON 1,759

10.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$186 RON 842

28.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$595 RON 2,690

37.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$442 RON 1,999

15.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$951 RON 4,301

-34.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

-29.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $389 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 54% higher in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $69.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $237 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin – so Drobeta-Turnu Severin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Chiang Mai vs Drobeta-Turnu Severin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Drobeta-Turnu Severin costs about 21% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,580 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $667 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Drobeta-Turnu Severin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin at $1,053. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Drobeta-Turnu Severin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Drobeta-Turnu Severin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.