😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,536 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,155 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 34% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Drobeta-Turnu Severin33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$8.98RON 41.13
-50.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$43.79RON 201
-26.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.86RON 36.01
13.61%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$3.43RON 15.73
-15.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$2.24RON 10.24
-60.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$1.93RON 8.85
-75.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$3.39RON 15.54
-30.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.04RON 18.52
-7.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.47RON 6.73
27.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$1.20RON 5.48
22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.45RON 6.66
6.90%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$3.55RON 16.26
-40.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$8.05RON 36.86
143.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.42RON 29.43
-46.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$8.42RON 38.59
35.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$1.23RON 5.63
142.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.57RON 7.21
7.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.56RON 7.17
41.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.76RON 12.65
-21.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$0.74RON 3.40
105.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$0.65RON 2.97
106.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.03RON 4.72
9.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.92RON 4.22
-40.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$6.14RON 28.13
-30.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$7.63RON 34.97
150.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$0.98RON 4.50
81.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$1.46RON 6.68
90.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$0.80RON 3.66
178.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$22.85RON 105
-0.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.02RON 4.68
197.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$0.86RON 3.96
18.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$8.68RON 39.77
-55.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$1.85RON 8.46
-19.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$29.6KRON 135.4K
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$26.0KRON 118.9K
4.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$123RON 563
-16.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$9.54RON 43.69
18.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$12.80RON 58.6
35.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$40.00RON 183
30.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$21.18RON 97.0
-47.73%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$7.17RON 32.83
7.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$462RON 2,119
21.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$6,941RON 31.8K
65.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$77.5RON 355
-18.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$33.15RON 152
-10.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$89.8RON 412
9.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$92.4RON 423
-4.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$402RON 1,843
83.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$179RON 818
170.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$640RON 2,930
229.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$472RON 2,161
159.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$1,920RON 8,798
88.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$1,385RON 6,347
87.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$971RON 4,449
-49.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
7.02
-20.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $402 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Drobeta-Turnu Severin pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $206, with Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Phuket vs Drobeta-Turnu Severin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Drobeta-Turnu Severin cheaper than Phuket?
Drobeta-Turnu Severin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
On paper, salaries run 97% 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 Phuket and Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket 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 0% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket 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 Phuket or in Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
At $918 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Drobeta-Turnu Severin but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Drobeta-Turnu Severin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Drobeta-Turnu Severin more family-friendly?
For families, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Drobeta-Turnu Severin?
Safety-wise, Phuket 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 34% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.