😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,296 in Lisbon versus $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,376 in Lisbon versus $1,536 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,457 in Lisbon versus $2,155 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Lisbon is roughly 150% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.59€15.31
$8.98RON 41.13
95.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9€54.7
$43.79RON 201
43.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.58€10.08
$7.86RON 36.01
47.33%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.70
$3.43RON 15.73
-9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.17
$2.24RON 10.24
11.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.52
$1.93RON 8.85
-9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.48€3.03
$3.39RON 15.54
2.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$4.04RON 18.52
-14.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€1.00
$1.47RON 6.73
-21.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91€1.66
$1.20RON 5.48
59.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50€1.31
$1.45RON 6.66
3.45%
Eggs
$3.98€3.47
$3.55RON 16.26
12.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.29€11.57
$8.05RON 36.86
65.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.97
$6.42RON 29.43
24.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.04€15.70
$8.42RON 38.59
114.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.23RON 5.63
91.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75€1.52
$1.57RON 7.21
11.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.61
$1.56RON 7.17
18.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.55€2.22
$2.76RON 12.65
-7.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84€1.60
$0.74RON 3.40
148.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.83
$0.65RON 2.97
223.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.03RON 4.72
44.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.92RON 4.22
-10.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.18
$6.14RON 28.13
15.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.14
$7.63RON 34.97
-22.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.14
$0.98RON 4.50
33.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.86
$1.46RON 6.68
45.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36€2.05
$0.80RON 3.66
195.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.62€40.57
$22.85RON 105
104.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08€3.55
$1.02RON 4.68
300.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$0.86RON 3.96
32.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.09€14.88
$8.68RON 39.77
96.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.31€2.01
$1.85RON 8.46
24.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.7K
$29.6KRON 135.4K
15.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K€36.0K
$26.0KRON 118.9K
59.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169€147
$123RON 563
37.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.33€16.83
$9.54RON 43.69
102.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51€29.17
$12.80RON 58.6
161.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.84€42.51
$40.00RON 183
22.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.43€16.92
$21.18RON 97.0
-8.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.33
$7.17RON 32.83
33.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€606
$462RON 2,119
50.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4K€15.1K
$6,941RON 31.8K
150.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105€91.7
$77.5RON 355
35.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.75€41.56
$33.15RON 152
44.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.5
$89.8RON 412
11.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124€108
$92.4RON 423
34.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,662€1,446
$402RON 1,843
313.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,085
$179RON 818
597.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,965€2,580
$640RON 2,930
363.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,049€1,783
$472RON 2,161
334.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,834€6,819
$1,920RON 8,798
307.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,464€3,886
$1,385RON 6,347
222.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,632€1,420
$971RON 4,449
68.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.78
7.02
-46.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,662 in Lisbon and $402 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $44.00 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $206 per month, with Drobeta-Turnu Severin 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
Lisbon vs Drobeta-Turnu Severin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper than Lisbon?
Drobeta-Turnu Severin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 150% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Average pay runs 68% higher in Lisbon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,662 in Lisbon versus $402 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. 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 104% less than in Lisbon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Lisbon versus $462 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Lisbon or in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
At $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $2,296 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drobeta-Turnu Severin but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Drobeta-Turnu Severin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Drobeta-Turnu Severin more family-friendly?
For families, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Drobeta-Turnu Severin 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 – expenses run 150% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.