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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,798 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,867 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,544 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% 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 36% lower, Drobeta-Turnu Severin 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ฿68.2

$13.58 RON 61.8

-84.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿624

$68.0 RON 309

-72.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 ฿262

$8.26 RON 37.56

-4.84%

Cappuccino

$2.03 ฿67.7

$3.28 RON 14.89

-38.11%

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

$0.80 ฿26.64

$2.33 RON 10.58

-65.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.68

$2.30 RON 10.43

-84.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.5

$3.48 RON 15.80

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 ฿122

$4.03 RON 18.30

-8.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 ฿57.6

$1.78 RON 8.09

-2.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.4

$1.38 RON 6.27

13.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ฿39.99

$1.89 RON 8.60

-36.51%

Eggs

$1.97 ฿65.8

$3.49 RON 15.85

-43.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.23 ฿541

$9.67 RON 43.95

67.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.06 ฿102

$6.95 RON 31.58

-55.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 ฿360

$12.38 RON 56.3

-12.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 ฿92.3

$1.40 RON 6.36

97.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.94

$1.79 RON 8.14

-34.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿57.0

$1.76 RON 7.98

-2.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.2

$2.50 RON 11.38

-36.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ฿46.51

$1.00 RON 4.56

39.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ฿38.56

$1.01 RON 4.61

14.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿22.05

$0.94 RON 4.29

-29.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.31

$0.94 RON 4.29

-44.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.65 ฿155

$6.30 RON 28.64

-26.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.78 ฿593

$8.22 RON 37.35

116.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿59.6

$1.22 RON 5.57

46.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 ฿111

$1.95 RON 8.88

71.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 ฿30.27

$0.67 RON 3.04

35.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.64 ฿622

$19.93 RON 90.6

-6.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.04

$0.67 RON 3.04

110.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.70

$0.66 RON 2.99

103.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.11 ฿270

$6.90 RON 31.35

17.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿41.16

$1.70 RON 7.72

-27.65%

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

$21.4K ฿715.1K

$29.0K RON 131.8K

-26.04%

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

$21.8K ฿728.0K

$30.5K RON 138.9K

-28.55%

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

$71.3 ฿2,379

$181 RON 822

-60.53%

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

$14.01 ฿467

$8.76 RON 39.82

59.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.93 ฿598

$11.48 RON 52.2

56.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.82 ฿1,362

$41.21 RON 187

-0.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿230

$18.90 RON 85.9

-63.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.72 ฿191

$9.32 RON 42.36

-38.63%

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

$308 ฿10.3K

$659 RON 2,998

-53.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.7K

$14.3K RON 65.1K

2.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,860

$79.3 RON 360

-29.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.04 ฿869

$45.38 RON 206

-42.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,829

$89.4 RON 407

-5.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.0 ฿2,368

$110 RON 499

-35.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$423 ฿14.1K

$395 RON 1,794

7.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 ฿8,088

$186 RON 846

30.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 ฿26.6K

$599 RON 2,722

33.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 ฿16.9K

$440 RON 2,002

15.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,918 ฿64.0K

$1,980 RON 9,003

-3.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,464 ฿48.8K

$1,343 RON 6,107

8.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$595 ฿19.9K

$937 RON 4,260

-36.50%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $423 in Chiang Mai versus $395 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 57% 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 $68.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $238 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 23% 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 $1,279 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,579 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 $308 per month in Chiang Mai and $659 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 3% 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 $852, 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 $852 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.