Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Brasilia Cost of Living Comparison Between Arad and Brasilia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $888 per month in Arad vs $880 in Brasilia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,381 per month in Arad vs $1,446 in Brasilia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,875 per month in Arad vs $2,011 in Brasilia, rent included.

Arad costs about 1% more than Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arad and Brasilia are more affordable than the global median – Arad 34% lower, Brasilia 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.06 RON 39.51
$7.19 R$35.88
26.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.55 RON 151
$39.72 R$198
-13.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.83 RON 29.78
$6.24 R$31.13
9.46%
Cappuccino
$2.28 RON 9.92
$1.88 R$9.37
21.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 RON 6.92
$1.16 R$5.81
37.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 RON 7.38
$0.87 R$4.37
94.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 RON 8.80
$1.82 R$9.10
10.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 RON 12.14
$3.28 R$16.38
-15.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 RON 6.33
$0.93 R$4.64
55.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 RON 5.34
$1.62 R$8.09
-24.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 RON 7.00
$1.41 R$7.02
13.48%
Eggs
$2.94 RON 12.84
$2.10 R$10.47
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 RON 35.23
$9.29 R$46.36
-13.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.47 RON 19.50
$3.31 R$16.51
35.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.60 RON 37.48
$6.85 R$34.19
25.55%
Apples (1kg)
$1.18 RON 5.13
$2.00 R$9.98
-41.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 RON 6.89
$1.34 R$6.70
17.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 RON 7.25
$1.22 R$6.06
36.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.71 RON 7.47
$1.67 R$8.34
2.40%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 RON 3.51
$1.23 R$6.12
-34.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 RON 3.84
$1.30 R$6.49
-32.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 RON 4.41
$0.74 R$3.71
36.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 RON 4.03
$0.61 R$3.07
50.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91 RON 25.75
$2.18 R$10.88
171.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.95 RON 30.32
$10.10 R$50.4
-31.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 RON 4.28
$1.11 R$5.55
-11.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 RON 7.21
$2.35 R$11.74
-29.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 RON 4.13
$1.03 R$5.12
-7.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.31 RON 102
$43.64 R$218
-46.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.90 RON 3.94
$0.94 R$4.71
-4.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 RON 3.58
$0.79 R$3.94
3.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.34 RON 40.72
$5.82 R$29.03
60.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 RON 6.74
$1.14 R$5.67
35.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K RON 124.6K
$25.4K R$126.6K
12.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RON 114.2K
$28.2K R$140.9K
-7.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 RON 473
$69.9 R$349
55.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.43 RON 36.75
$13.04 R$65.1
-35.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95 RON 34.65
$20.00 R$99.8
-60.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.05 RON 170
$24.95 R$124
56.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.39 RON 102
$21.77 R$109
7.44%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 RON 25.01
$7.00 R$34.91
-18.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$230 RON 1,003
$488 R$2,435
-52.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,929 RON 30.2K
$15.0K R$74.6K
-53.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.05 RON 179
$58.1 R$290
-29.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.57 RON 164
$41.98 R$209
-10.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 RON 349
$69.1 R$345
15.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7 RON 300
$64.0 R$320
7.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$322 RON 1,406
$402 R$2,007
-19.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$215 RON 938
$263 R$1,312
-18.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$578 RON 2,521
$978 R$4,881
-40.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$428 RON 1,868
$564 R$2,813
-24.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,549 RON 6,754
$2,751 R$13.7K
-43.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,174 RON 5,119
$1,816 R$9,060
-35.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arad
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$842 RON 3,673
$762 R$3,801
10.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.87
-45.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arad: April 25, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $322 in Arad versus $402 in Brasilia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Arad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad versus $40.00 in Brasilia. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Arad vs $183 in Brasilia – so Brasilia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Arad vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arad or Brasilia?
Arad costs about 1% more than Brasilia, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arad vs Brasilia?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,332 per month in Arad and $1,320 in Brasilia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arad or Brasilia?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Brasilia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Arad vs Brasilia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Arad and $40.00 in Brasilia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Arad compared to Brasilia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $888 in Arad and $880 in Brasilia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Arad or Brasilia?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $888 in Arad and $880 in Brasilia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arad or Brasilia?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Brasilia costs $880 versus $888 in Arad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Arad compared to Brasilia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Arad or Brasilia?
If budget matters most, go with Brasilia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Arad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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