😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,536 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,155 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 83% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$8.98RON 41.13
-10.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$43.79RON 201
9.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$7.86RON 36.01
25.83%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.43RON 15.73
-8.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$2.24RON 10.24
-14.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$1.93RON 8.85
-21.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$3.39RON 15.54
-7.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$4.04RON 18.52
42.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.47RON 6.73
-2.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.20RON 5.48
107.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.45RON 6.66
22.07%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$3.55RON 16.26
-16.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$8.05RON 36.86
25.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$6.42RON 29.43
57.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$8.42RON 38.59
69.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$1.23RON 5.63
236.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.57RON 7.21
2.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.56RON 7.17
44.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$2.76RON 12.65
-18.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.74RON 3.40
175.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.65RON 2.97
136.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$1.03RON 4.72
13.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.92RON 4.22
42.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$6.14RON 28.13
-36.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$7.63RON 34.97
83.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$0.98RON 4.50
77.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.46RON 6.68
96.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.80RON 3.66
52.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$22.85RON 105
252.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.02RON 4.68
28.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.86RON 3.96
154.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$8.68RON 39.77
0.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.85RON 8.46
-25.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$29.6KRON 135.4K
-5.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$26.0KRON 118.9K
37.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$123RON 563
44.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$9.54RON 43.69
45.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$12.80RON 58.6
132.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$40.00RON 183
12.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$21.18RON 97.0
-19.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$7.17RON 32.83
-7.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$462RON 2,119
75.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$6,941RON 31.8K
32.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$77.5RON 355
15.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$33.15RON 152
77.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$89.8RON 412
53.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$92.4RON 423
10.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$402RON 1,843
164.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$179RON 818
271.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$640RON 2,930
195.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$472RON 2,161
117.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,920RON 8,798
117.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,385RON 6,347
20.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$971RON 4,449
-30.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
7.02
55.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $402 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Drobeta-Turnu Severin pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $44.00 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 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
Medellin vs Drobeta-Turnu Severin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper than Medellin?
Drobeta-Turnu Severin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. 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 Medellin and Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin 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 252% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin 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 Medellin or in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
At $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drobeta-Turnu Severin but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Drobeta-Turnu Severin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Drobeta-Turnu Severin more family-friendly?
For families, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Safety-wise, Medellin 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 83% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.