😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,798 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,544 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 20% more expensive than in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Drobeta-Turnu Severin21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$13.58RON 61.8
-67.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$68.0RON 309
-32.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$8.26RON 37.56
6.05%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$3.28RON 14.89
-9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$2.33RON 10.58
-70.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$2.30RON 10.43
-83.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$3.48RON 15.80
-27.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$4.03RON 18.30
-6.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.78RON 8.09
20.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.38RON 6.27
31.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.89RON 8.60
15.34%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$3.49RON 15.85
-35.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$9.67RON 43.95
106.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.95RON 31.58
-47.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$12.38RON 56.3
9.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.40RON 6.36
131.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.79RON 8.14
-8.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.76RON 7.98
32.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.50RON 11.38
-17.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.00RON 4.56
55.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.01RON 4.61
44.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.94RON 4.29
4.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.94RON 4.29
-48.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$6.30RON 28.64
-30.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$8.22RON 37.35
125.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.22RON 5.57
52.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.95RON 8.88
35.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.67RON 3.04
111.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$19.93RON 90.6
-41.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.67RON 3.04
373.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.66RON 2.99
56.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$6.90RON 31.35
101.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.70RON 7.72
-21.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$29.0KRON 131.8K
-4.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$30.5KRON 138.9K
9.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$181RON 822
-31.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$8.76RON 39.82
57.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$11.48RON 52.2
59.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$41.21RON 187
47.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$18.90RON 85.9
-9.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$9.32RON 42.36
-4.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$659RON 2,998
4.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$14.3KRON 65.1K
10.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$79.3RON 360
-25.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$45.38RON 206
-23.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$89.4RON 407
28.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$110RON 499
-23.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$395RON 1,794
57.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$186RON 846
139.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$599RON 2,722
239.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$440RON 2,002
239.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$1,980RON 9,003
74.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$1,343RON 6,107
88.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Drobeta-Turnu Severin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$937RON 4,260
-47.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.1
-24.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Drobeta-Turnu Severin: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $395 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Drobeta-Turnu Severin pays 90% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $68.0 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $238, 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% 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 90% 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: $621 in Phuket versus $395 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 72% 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 $688 in Phuket versus $659 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 $1,053 in Drobeta-Turnu Severin versus $1,264 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 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.