πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,374 in Cluj-Napoca.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,756 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,111 in Cluj-Napoca.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,459 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,848 in Cluj-Napoca.
πLiving in Drobeta-Turnu Severin costs roughly 23% less than in Cluj-Napoca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 22% below, Cluj-Napoca is 2% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.80RONΒ 62.4
$11.58RONΒ 52.4
19.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4RONΒ 314
$57.8RONΒ 261
20.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.27RONΒ 37.40
$8.08RONΒ 36.53
2.35%
Cappuccino
$3.41RONΒ 15.43
$3.53RONΒ 15.99
-3.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34RONΒ 10.58
$2.30RONΒ 10.40
1.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30RONΒ 10.38
$2.13RONΒ 9.65
7.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54RONΒ 16.00
$3.28RONΒ 14.84
7.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01RONΒ 18.13
$4.02RONΒ 18.18
-0.25%
π Groceries & Markets
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79RONΒ 8.09
$1.79RONΒ 8.11
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.35RONΒ 6.12
$1.35RONΒ 6.10
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83RONΒ 8.27
$1.89RONΒ 8.56
-3.17%
Eggs
$3.67RONΒ 16.60
$3.26RONΒ 14.75
12.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.46RONΒ 42.78
$10.25RONΒ 46.36
-7.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86RONΒ 31.05
$7.06RONΒ 31.96
-2.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.46RONΒ 56.4
$12.06RONΒ 54.6
3.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.40RONΒ 6.32
$1.18RONΒ 5.36
18.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70RONΒ 7.68
$1.72RONΒ 7.80
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81RONΒ 8.17
$1.63RONΒ 7.39
11.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42RONΒ 10.94
$2.42RONΒ 10.93
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.00RONΒ 4.51
$0.95RONΒ 4.30
5.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97RONΒ 4.40
$0.93RONΒ 4.23
4.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97RONΒ 4.41
$1.08RONΒ 4.89
-10.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RONΒ 3.98
$0.88RONΒ 3.99
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.49RONΒ 29.36
$6.56RONΒ 29.67
-1.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.46RONΒ 38.27
$7.76RONΒ 35.09
9.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26RONΒ 5.70
$1.16RONΒ 5.23
8.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94RONΒ 8.78
$1.96RONΒ 8.86
-1.02%
π Getting Around
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RONΒ 3.03
$0.67RONΒ 3.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.09RONΒ 90.9
$22.65RONΒ 102
-11.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71RONΒ 3.21
$1.00RONΒ 4.51
-29.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65RONΒ 2.95
$0.86RONΒ 3.90
-24.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.99RONΒ 31.62
$9.43RONΒ 42.67
-25.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.73RONΒ 7.81
$1.70RONΒ 7.71
1.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KRONΒ 130.2K
$28.5KRONΒ 128.9K
0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KRONΒ 134.3K
$26.7KRONΒ 120.8K
11.22%
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)
$181RONΒ 820
$156RONΒ 704
16.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.85RONΒ 40.02
$9.13RONΒ 41.29
-3.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28RONΒ 51.0
$9.87RONΒ 44.65
14.29%
π Sport & Entertainment
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.86RONΒ 185
$44.65RONΒ 202
-8.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.20RONΒ 86.9
$20.25RONΒ 91.6
-5.19%
Cinema Ticket
$9.34RONΒ 42.26
$8.27RONΒ 37.39
12.94%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$667RONΒ 3,019
$481RONΒ 2,176
38.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.4KRONΒ 65.2K
$10.5KRONΒ 47.5K
37.35%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5RONΒ 369
$69.5RONΒ 314
17.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43RONΒ 201
$40.69RONΒ 184
9.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.1RONΒ 412
$84.5RONΒ 382
7.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110RONΒ 497
$99.9RONΒ 452
9.89%
π Accommodation & Living
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389RONΒ 1,759
$707RONΒ 3,196
-44.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186RONΒ 842
$564RONΒ 2,552
-67.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595RONΒ 2,690
$1,261RONΒ 5,706
-52.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$442RONΒ 1,999
$930RONΒ 4,209
-52.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,832RONΒ 21.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,491RONΒ 15.8K
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Cluj-Napoca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$951RONΒ 4,301
$1,369RONΒ 6,194
-30.56%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Cluj-Napoca: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $389 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin and $707 in Cluj-Napoca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Cluj-Napoca pays 44% 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: $69.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin vs $58.0 in Cluj-Napoca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $234 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 Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 30% 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 44% 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: $389 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $707 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 13% 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 $667 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $481 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 $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,374 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 30% 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