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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,536 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,155 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more 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 32% lower, Drobeta-Turnu Severin 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$8.98 RON 41.13

-76.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$43.79 RON 201

-55.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.86 RON 36.01

-27.86%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$3.43 RON 15.73

-47.23%

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

$0.77 ฿25.58

$2.24 RON 10.24

-65.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.93 RON 8.85

-81.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.39 RON 15.54

-34.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$4.04 RON 18.52

-6.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.2

$1.47 RON 6.73

39.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.20 RON 5.48

25.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.57

$1.45 RON 6.66

-3.45%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.2

$3.55 RON 16.26

-36.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$8.05 RON 36.86

101.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$6.42 RON 29.43

-54.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$8.42 RON 38.59

11.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.2

$1.23 RON 5.63

117.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.28

$1.57 RON 7.21

-30.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$1.56 RON 7.17

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.61

$2.76 RON 12.65

-47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.54

$0.74 RON 3.40

72.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.21

$0.65 RON 2.97

63.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.88

$1.03 RON 4.72

-30.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.51

$0.92 RON 4.22

-42.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$6.14 RON 28.13

-31.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$7.63 RON 34.97

139.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.3

$0.98 RON 4.50

66.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.46 RON 6.68

98.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.24

$0.80 RON 3.66

10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,790

$22.85 RON 105

135.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.04

$1.02 RON 4.68

14.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.25

$0.86 RON 3.96

-32.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$8.68 RON 39.77

-72.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.28

$1.85 RON 8.46

-21.62%

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

$21.0K ฿699.5K

$29.6K RON 135.4K

-28.93%

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

$26.4K ฿879.7K

$26.0K RON 118.9K

1.80%

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

$63.7 ฿2,119

$123 RON 563

-48.22%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$9.54 RON 43.69

35.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$12.80 RON 58.6

60.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,299

$40.00 RON 183

-2.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

$21.18 RON 97.0

-81.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.17 RON 32.83

-8.23%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$462 RON 2,119

69.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.4K

$6,941 RON 31.8K

111.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,835

$77.5 RON 355

-28.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿824

$33.15 RON 152

-25.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,133

$89.8 RON 412

4.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,462

$92.4 RON 423

-19.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$402 RON 1,843

21.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,594

$179 RON 818

61.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$640 RON 2,930

39.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$472 RON 2,161

10.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,920 RON 8,798

2.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,385 RON 6,347

4.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

$971 RON 4,449

-38.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.02

-20.66%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $402 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 61% higher in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $44.00 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $206 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

Chiang Mai costs about 2% more than Drobeta-Turnu Severin, 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,376 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 Drobeta-Turnu Severin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $462 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Drobeta-Turnu Severin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Drobeta-Turnu Severin costs $918 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. 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 Drobeta-Turnu Severin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.