πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,789 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,092 in Cluj-Napoca.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,485 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,808 in Cluj-Napoca.
πLiving in Drobeta-Turnu Severin costs roughly 20% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 18% below, Cluj-Napoca is 3% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.97RONΒ 60.8
$11.48RONΒ 49.93
21.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4RONΒ 298
$57.9RONΒ 252
18.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91RONΒ 34.41
$8.25RONΒ 35.90
-4.12%
Cappuccino
$3.43RONΒ 14.90
$3.53RONΒ 15.37
-2.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26RONΒ 9.82
$2.33RONΒ 10.13
-3.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RONΒ 9.99
$2.22RONΒ 9.65
3.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50RONΒ 15.21
$3.19RONΒ 13.89
9.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01RONΒ 17.43
$3.90RONΒ 16.94
2.82%
π Groceries & Markets
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72RONΒ 7.50
$1.72RONΒ 7.50
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.37RONΒ 5.95
$1.31RONΒ 5.69
4.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.86RONΒ 8.09
$1.89RONΒ 8.24
-1.59%
Eggs
$3.63RONΒ 15.78
$3.23RONΒ 14.06
12.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74RONΒ 42.37
$9.79RONΒ 42.59
-0.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.84RONΒ 29.76
$7.15RONΒ 31.11
-4.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.08RONΒ 52.6
$11.97RONΒ 52.1
0.92%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36RONΒ 5.93
$1.23RONΒ 5.36
10.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77RONΒ 7.69
$1.77RONΒ 7.71
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83RONΒ 7.97
$1.62RONΒ 7.05
12.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50RONΒ 10.89
$2.37RONΒ 10.32
5.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RONΒ 4.33
$0.97RONΒ 4.20
3.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96RONΒ 4.16
$0.93RONΒ 4.05
3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00RONΒ 4.35
$1.04RONΒ 4.51
-3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89RONΒ 3.86
$0.87RONΒ 3.78
2.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64RONΒ 28.89
$6.51RONΒ 28.34
2.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98RONΒ 34.71
$7.79RONΒ 33.89
2.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22RONΒ 5.31
$1.17RONΒ 5.07
4.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00RONΒ 8.71
$1.96RONΒ 8.51
2.04%
π Getting Around
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RONΒ 3.09
$0.67RONΒ 2.92
5.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.65RONΒ 85.5
$23.34RONΒ 102
-15.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72RONΒ 3.12
$1.00RONΒ 4.35
-28.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RONΒ 2.86
$0.82RONΒ 3.56
-19.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.85RONΒ 29.81
$9.52RONΒ 41.41
-28.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65RONΒ 7.18
$1.64RONΒ 7.13
0.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KRONΒ 126.7K
$28.3KRONΒ 123.3K
2.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KRONΒ 133.2K
$26.9KRONΒ 116.8K
14.02%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183RONΒ 794
$158RONΒ 686
15.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96RONΒ 38.98
$8.92RONΒ 38.78
0.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.06RONΒ 48.11
$10.05RONΒ 43.71
10.05%
π Sport & Entertainment
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.24RONΒ 184
$43.60RONΒ 190
-3.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.49RONΒ 84.8
$20.27RONΒ 88.2
-3.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.98RONΒ 39.07
$7.93RONΒ 34.48
13.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$658RONΒ 2,863
$490RONΒ 2,131
34.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KRONΒ 62.3K
$10.5KRONΒ 45.7K
36.28%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.9RONΒ 352
$70.7RONΒ 307
14.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.23RONΒ 197
$40.62RONΒ 177
11.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9RONΒ 386
$85.1RONΒ 370
4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110RONΒ 479
$99.6RONΒ 433
10.47%
π Accommodation & Living
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382RONΒ 1,661
$719RONΒ 3,128
-46.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183RONΒ 797
$558RONΒ 2,427
-67.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$578RONΒ 2,514
$1,274RONΒ 5,541
-54.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445RONΒ 1,937
$951RONΒ 4,135
-53.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,661RONΒ 20.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,361RONΒ 14.6K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$994RONΒ 4,324
$1,415RONΒ 6,157
-29.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
5.85
21.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $382 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin and $719 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Cluj-Napoca pays 42% 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: $68.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $235 vs $232 per month, with Cluj-Napoca 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
Drobeta-Turnu Severin vs Cluj-Napoca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cluj-Napoca cheaper than Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Drobeta-Turnu Severin is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Drobeta-Turnu Severin or Cluj-Napoca?
On paper, Cluj-Napoca earns 42% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Cluj-Napoca?
Rent for a central apartment: $382 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $719 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Drobeta-Turnu Severin runs roughly 19% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $658 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $490 in Cluj-Napoca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Drobeta-Turnu Severin or Cluj-Napoca?
At $1,093 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,375 in Cluj-Napoca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drobeta-Turnu Severin but tight or insufficient in Cluj-Napoca. The gap between the two cities makes Drobeta-Turnu Severin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Drobeta-Turnu Severin or Cluj-Napoca more family-friendly?
For families, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cluj-Napoca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Drobeta-Turnu Severin or Cluj-Napoca?
Safety-wise, Drobeta-Turnu Severin and Cluj-Napoca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Drobeta-Turnu Severin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 26% less than in Cluj-Napoca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Drobeta-Turnu Severin vs other spots: cost of living compared